GOLDEN, Colo. – The Colorado School of Mines Baseball team dropped its series opener against #24-ranked Colorado Mesa on Saturday afternoon in a 15-2, run-rule contest at Jim Darden Field.
 
Danny McDermott and I-Ly Hsue each had a hit and a RBI for the Orediggers (7-10, 3-2 RMAC). Hsue's lone hit was a double. Adam Houghtaling and Trent Nielsen scored Mines' two runs. Garret Nielsen and Alex Dunagan had base knocks as well. On the mound, Luke Folsom (1-3) started the game and wore the decision after giving up eight runs on 10 hits in 4.0 innings of work. He struck out five and walked zero. Rodney Gregg, Matthew Dobberthien, and Gray St. Amant appeared in relief as well. Liam Hohenstein (2-0) was the winning pitcher for Colorado Mesa (13-7, 4-1 RMAC)
 
The bright spot for Mines came from its pitching staff which walked zero batters in 7.0 innings of work while combining to strike out eight Mavericks. The Oredigger hitters also drew six walks off the CMU pitching staff and only struck out six times. However, Colorado Mesa made up the difference on offense as the Mavericks scored 15 runs on 20 hits including three doubles and four home runs, batting nearly .500 as a team. Mines' defense committed three errors in the field, but 14 of CMU's 15 runs were still earned.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
There were no runs scored in the top or bottom of the first inning. Then, Colorado Mesa hit a three-run home run as part of a four-run frame in the second. Mines manufactured two runs of its own in the bottom half thanks to McDermott's RBI-single and a sacrifice fly from Hsue. After that, the Mavericks scored at least one run in each remaining inning including crooked numbers in the fourth, fifth, and seventh. Home runs accounted for six of Mesa's first eight runs. The visitors manufactured the rest as they took advantage of multiple Oredigger hiccups on defense.
 
NOTABLES
- Saturday's loss drops Mines to 5-6 against Colorado Mesa at Jim Darden Field since 2018.
- Hsue's double was his third of the season and 27th of his career.
- Houghtaling has reached base safely in 25 consecutive appearances. A streak dating back to the 2022 season.
- Jackson Woolwine has reached base safely in 10 straight games, as has Garret Nielsen.
- Garret Nielsen also touts an active, 10-game hitting streak.
- Mines' pitchers have combined to strike out 100 batters while walking just 38 in 2023.
- St. Amant's appearance out of the bullpen marked his collegiate pitching debut. He recorded one out and surrendered zero runs on zero hits and zero walks.
- Head Coach Robby Bales is now 102-70 in his fifth season leading the Orediggers.
 
WHAT'S NEXT
The series between Mines and Colorado Mesa continues on Sunday with a doubleheader starting at 12 p.m. at Jim Darden Field. Tickets can be purchased online or at the gate. Free live stats and video on the RMAC Network will be offered 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.