LAKEWOOD, Colo. – The Colorado School of Mines Baseball team swept its doubleheader at Colorado Christian on Saturday afternoon by scores of 17-3 and 6-3 to push Head Coach Robby Bales over 100 victories in his career.
 
Big bats were the name of the game again for the Orediggers. Garret Nielsen led the way in that category with two home runs which resulted in six RBI. Mason Andrews and Trent Nielsen also hit long balls and combined for seven RBI in the two games. Adam Houghtaling had two doubles on the day, and Danny McDermott and I-Ly Hsue chipped in a double each as well. Hsue was 2-for-3 with two runs and three RBI in game one. Also notable was Alex Dunagan who went 3-for-3 and scored a run in game two.
 
Kevin Zapanta (1-1) was the starting pitcher and winner in game one. He provided 5.0 innings of three-run, three-hit work while striking out seven and walking three. Ben Schoneman started game two on the mound, but did not factor in the decision. He gave the ball off to Blake Ripp after 3.0 innings in which he surrendered two runs on five hits. Ripp (2-1) earned the win thanks to 4.0 innings of one-run, one-hit relief. He struck out five and walked zero along the way.
 
Mines (7-8, 3-0 RMAC) scored its 23 total runs on 22 hits including eight hits for extra bases. The Orediggers' slugging included four doubles and four home runs. Colorado Christian (3-12-1, 0-3 RMAC) totaled three doubles and two home runs on the day. The Cougars finished with three runs on six hits in both games. The Orediggers also benefited from 11 walks off the arms of CCU's pitchers. Mines hurlers only walked four batters total and none in the second game of the day.
 
GAME ONE: Mines 17, Colorado Christian 3
The Orediggers and Cougars were tied, 1-1, after two complete innings of action in a game scheduled for seven innings. The turning point came in the third in fourth frames as Mines exploded for 15 total runs. Three-run home runs from Garret Nielsen and Andrews keyed a 10-run third inning. The fourth inning was highlighted by Trent Nielsen's two-run home run as the Orediggers stacked up five total runs. Colorado Christian hit a two-run double in the bottom of the fifth to cap the scoring
 
GAME TWO: Mines 6, Colorado Christian 3
For the back end of the doubleheader, the Orediggers had to come from behind. The Cougars jumped ahead 2-0 in the third with a two-run home run. They used a solo shot in the fifth to make it 3-0 with two innings left to play. Garret Nielsen started Mines' rally with his own bomb in top of the sixth. Fortunately for the visitors, Andrews was also on base. In their final chance at the plate, the Orediggers completed the rally. Trent Nielsen hit a bases-loaded single to plate Shuta Araki and tie the game at 3-3. Woolwine made it back-to-back base hits and gave Mines a 5-3 lead with a two-run single. Andrews' sacrifice fly scored Trent Nielsen for unneeded insurance. Ripp struck out CCU in order to clinch the win.
 
WHAT'S NEXT
Mines closes the series at Colorado Christian on Sunday with a single, nine-inning game starting at 1 p.m. at All-Star Park in Lakewood. Live stats and video on the RMAC Network will be offered for free at www.minesathletics.com.
 
Fans can follow Mines baseball on Twitter at @OrediggersBSB. They can also follow all of Mines Athletics on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram at @MinesAthletics, and online at www.minesathletics.com.