FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – The Colorado School of Mines softball team returned to action early on Sunday as they wrapped up their weekend in the Sunshine State, taking on 2022 NCAA Regional Participant #RV Nova Southeastern.
 
Sadriena Rodriguez shined in the circle while Sidney Wilson helped lead the way at the plate as the Orediggers (1-5) broke into the win column for the first time this season with a 3-2 win in game one and looked poised to complete the sweep until the Sharks (7-3) scored six runs over the final two innings to come from behind and split the doubleheader with a 6-4 win in game two.
 
Kendall Aragon led the morning off with a single and advanced to second on an Aubree Karraker groundout before Wilson split the left center gap with a run-scoring double to put Mines on top early. NSU answered in the bottom of the first with a run of their own to draw back even, turning a leadoff hit by pitch by Alexis Smith into a run on an RBI groundout by Ryleigh Langwell. The Sharks had an opportunity to take the lead in the inning, but Rodriguez was able to get a strikeout to end the inning and work out of trouble.
 
Mines and Nova Southeastern managed just one baserunner each for the next two innings until the fourth inning, when Sara Larson reached base with one out after being plunked before stealing second. Hannah Roberts then reached base on a walk before Lauren Decker singled off the glove of the pitcher Alyssa Grimes and into shallow centerfield to score Larson and make it 2-1 Orediggers.
 
Aragon and Wilson teamed up again in the fifth inning, as after the freshman led off with a single down the line in left and advanced to second on a sac bunt from Karraker, Wilson turned on an inside pitch and ripped one towards the left field corner to drive home Aragon for the second time with a long RBI single to make it 3-1.
 
Nova Southeastern made it a one-run game in the sixth, as a sacrifice fly from Alyssa Drogemuller scored Williams from third. The Sharks looked to tie the game on a flyball off the bat of Madison Fine, but an over the shoulder catch by Lauren Decker in deep center along with a strong throw back in doubled off the runner at second to end the inning.
 
Mines had a chance to add some insurance runs in the seventh as Emilee Sloan and Aragon reached and worked their way into scoring position but nothing materialized. Cassidy Chvatal came on looking for the final three outs of the game and worked a 1-2-3 seventh to collect her first save of the season and wrap up the 3-2 win.
 
Rodriguez (1-0) was stellar once again in her second start of the season, allowing just two runs on four hits while striking out four and not allowing a walk as she earned the win.
 
Game two started much with the same tune as game one. Aubree Karraker tripled the other way to right center before scoring on an RBI single by Sidney Wilson to give Mines the first lead of the game again. Nova Southeastern had a chance to answer in their half of the inning, getting two runners on base but Taylor Wayne was able to get a strikeout to work out of trouble and end the inning.
 
Neither side was able to do much at the plate in the second and third innings, but in the fourth the Orediggers broke things open with a three-run outburst in the fourth. Lauren Decker worked a one-out walk before back-to-back singles from Trystin Oshiro-Sano and Aragon allowed Decker to come all the way around and score. A passed ball put runners on second and third before a ball off the bat of Karraker into centerfield fell in between two NSU defenders and saw Oshiro-Sano score. After NSU made a pitching change, Kayleigh Krueger scored Aragon with a fielder's choice that made it a 4-0 game.
 
The Sharks were able to get going on offense in the bottom of the fifth, as the first three batters of the inning reached before Alexis Smith cleared the bases with a three-run triple to left center. Cassidy Chvatal (0-3) came on in relief of starter Taylor Wayne with a runner on third with no outs, looking to help Mines get out of the inning, but NSU was able to load the bases and eventually tie the game at 4-4 on hit by pitch with two outs but couldn't take the lead as a lineout to left field ended the inning.
 
A bit of bad luck ended a potential scoring chance for the Orediggers in the sixth as Wilson lined into a double play to end the inning before the Sharks scored twice to take their first lead of the game on a sacrifice fly and an RBI double to lead 6-4.
 
Down to their final three outs, Mines was able to get two runners into scoring position in Krueger and Larson, but were unable to find a way to bring them home as the Sharks escaped with a win in game two t split the doubleheader.
 
NOTABLES
-Aragon turned in a 5-8 day at the plate with three runs and an RBI and finished her first weekend in a Mines uniform batting .500 with double, three RBI and three run scored
-Wilson and Decker each turned in solid days at the plate Sunday, with the former going 4-8 with a double and three RBI and the latter going 3-5 with a run and an RBI
-Rodriguez's six innings of work was her longest outing since she worked a seven-inning complete game against Adams State on April 2 of last season
-Mines pounded out a season-high 11 hits in game two, with Aragon, Karraker, Wilson and Krueger all finishing with two hits in game two
-The Orediggers went 19-58 (.328) in Sunday's doubleheader with three extra base hits and seven runs scored after going 19-119 (.160) with four runs scored and two extra base hits in their first four games of the weekend

LOOKING AHEAD
The Orediggers are scheduled to begin Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference play at Joe Coors, Jr. Softball Field next weekend in a four-game series with Black Hills State beginning Saturday at 12 p.m. MT.
 
Fans can keep up with Mines softball on Twitter at @MinesSoftball and Instagram at @mines_sb. They can also keep up with Colorado School of Mines Athletics all year long on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram using the handle @MinesAthletics.