LAKEWOOD, Colo. – A late-inning rally fell short for the Colorado School of Mines Baseball team on Sunday as the Orediggers dropped the series finale, 7-5, to Colorado Christian at All-Star Park.
 
At the plate, Adam Houghtaling went 3-for-5 with two doubles and three RBI. Garret Nielsen was 2-for-4 including one home run leading to two runs and two RBI. Jackson Woolwine had a hit and scored one run. Luke Folsom notched a hit and scored as well. Mason Andrews came across the plate too. Carter Gorling (0-2) was the starting pitcher and took the decision due to four runs on four hits in 2.2 innings. Marcus Lee and Blake Ripp also appeared out of the bullpen.
 
The Orediggers (7-9, 3-1 RMAC) tallied their five runs on seven hits. Mines hitters walked four times and struck out eight. Colorado Christian (4-12-1, 1-3 RMAC) matched the visitors' slugging with two doubles and a home run. The Cougar hitters stacked up their seven runs on 10 hits, and only struck out four times. The Oredigger pitching staff only issued two walks. However, Mines left nine runners on base compared to five left aboard for the home team. Saxton Sorensen (1-3) was the winning pitcher for CCU.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
There were no runs scored in the first two innings of action. Then, Mines appeared to be on the precipice of a big inning in the top of the third. Jackson Woolwine singled, Andrews walked, and Garret Nielsen hit a RBI-single to score Woolwine. Houghtaling's RBI-double made the score 2-0, and Trent Nielsen's walk loaded the bases. However, CCU escaped with no further harm and put up a big inning of its own. By the end of the third frame, Colorado Christian had scored four runs on four hits to take a 4-2 lead.
 
Garret Nielsen cut Mines' deficit to 4-3 thanks to a leadoff home run in the top of the fifth inning. While there were no more scoring outbursts, the Cougars added to their lead with single runs in the sixth, seventh, and eighth innings. The Orediggers staged a two-out rally in the top of ninth as Houghtaling drove in Garret Nielsen and Folsom with a double. But it would come up short and Colorado Christian would avoid the weekend sweep.
 
NOTABLES
- Garret Nielsen hit his fifth home run of the season thanks to long balls in three consecutive games. He is tops on the team with five home runs and 25 RBI in 2023.
- Houghtaling notched his seventh double of the season. He boasts six doubles in the last five games.
- Houghtaling has also reached base safely in 24 consecutive appearances. A streak dating back to last season.
- Garret Nielsen and Houghtaling both tout active, nine-game hitting streaks.
- Six of Mines' nine losses in 2023 have come by two runs or less.
- Through 16 games, the Orediggers are outscoring their opponents, 125-95.
- For the weekend, Garret Nielsen hit .444 with eight runs on eight hits including two doubles and three home runs with 13 RBI. Houghtaling batted .556 with five runs, five doubles, and nine RBI.
- Blake Ripp finished the RMAC opening series with a 1.93 ERA in two appearances, totaling 4.2 innings with five strikeouts, zero walks, and one run on one hit.
- Head Coach Robby Bales is now 102-69 in his fifth season leading the Orediggers.
 
WHAT'S NEXT
Mines will play its 2023 RMAC home openers next weekend, hosting Colorado Mesa at Jim Darden Field on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Tickets can be purchased online or at the gate. 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.