GOLDEN, Colo. – Back at Joe Coors, Jr. Softball Field for the final two games of the weekend to close out an eight-game home stand, the Colorado School of Mines softball team looked to rebound from a pair of tough losses Saturday to the #17 team in Division II Colorado Christian on Sunday, but were unable to solve the CCU pitching, falling by scores of 3-0 and 8-0 in six innings
 
The Orediggers (8-14, 7-9) were limited to eight hits over the course of the day by the Cougars (26-2, 16-0), who combined to hit three home runs over the course of the afternoon in their two wins.
 
Following a 30-minute delay to the start of play due to temperatures being below the minimum required by the RMAC, offense was at a premium in game one as both starting pitchers traded zeros over the first three innings. Sadriena Rodriguez (3-2) allowed just two base runners her first three innings before surrendering a two-run home run in the top of the fourth inning.
 
CCU tacked on another run with an RBI triple in the fifth as Mines just couldn't figure out starting pitcher Kali Crandall, managing just five hit in the opener in the 3-0 loss.
 
Game two again saw CCU score first on a passed ball in the second inning before doubling their lead in the fourth with a solo home run to left by Leah Garcia. Once again, the Orediggers had a hard time finding ways to get on base against starting pitcher Abrie Castillo, as Kendall Aragon had the only hit of the game through the first four innings.
 
The Cougars broke things open in the fifth, scoring five in the inning with back-to-back RBI singles followed by a wild pitch to make it 5-0. An RBI single to center field had a chance to score two, but a strong throw from Lauren Decker to Lexie Semeyn cut down the second runner by plenty at the plate, but the seventh run of the game scored shortly after anyway with an RBI double to center.
 
CCU led off the sixth with a solo home run to make it 8-0 and bring the run rule into effect, and while Aragon singled again in the bottom of the inning, the Orediggers couldn't find a way to bring her around to score as the game ended in six innings as the Cougars completed the series sweep.
 
NOTABLES
-Kayleigh Krueger went 2-3 at the plate in game one as four different players recorded a hit in the game
-Aragon finished the day 3-6 with a 2-3 showing in game two
-Decker went 2-5 with a base hit in each game Sunday
-Rodriguez was strong in the circle again in the opener despite the hard-luck loss, striking out seven and allowing just three runs on four hits
-Cassidy Chvatal (1-6) worked four solid innings despite taking the loss in game two, allowing two runs, of which only one was earned, on five hits with two strikeouts
-Allison Westbrook worked 1.1 innings of relief and allowed a run on a hit and recorded a strikeout

LOOKING AHEAD
The Orediggers hit the road for their next eight games, starting next weekend as they continue RMAC play against Chadron State on March 18-19 before taking on Fort Hays in the final non-conference games of the season March 21-22.
 
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.