GOLDEN, Colo. – After spending last weekend in New Mexico, the Colorado School of Mines softball team opened an eight-game home stand at Joe Coors, Jr. Softball Field Saturday afternoon against Regis as they continued Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference play, but came out on the wrong end in both games of the doubleheader, losing 5-4 in the opener before dropping an 11-3 decision in five innings in game two.
The Orediggers (7-9, 6-4) mustered a sixth-inning rally in game one and looked to have the game in hand before the Rangers (11-9, 8-2) scored three in the top of the seventh to take the win before cranking out 11 runs on 11 hits in game two to win in a run rule.
Regis pushed across the first runs of the day in game one, scoring single runs on both the second and third innings by way of a two-out RBI double and then an RBI singled into right field to make it 2-0 early against starter
Sadriena Rodriguez. After a scoreless fourth inning, Mines broke through for two runs in the fifth to tie the game, as with two outs
Sara Larson singled into left field to score
Sidney Wilson and
Kayleigh Krueger after they reached bases by way of a fielder's choice and a double to center field.
The Orediggers scored two more in the bottom of the sixth, again with two outs as a groundball off the bat of
Aubree Karraker was booted by the shortstop who tried to get the force at second with bases loaded, but
Kendall Aragon's slide beat the tag as pinch runners
Kailey Robb and
Paige Dompier were able to race home while the Regis defense looked at the second base umpire in disbelief over the call as Mines took the lead 4-2.
Reliever
Cassidy Chvatal (1-5) looked to close things down in the seventh, but a pair of walks followed by a one-out double down the left field line tied the game at 4-4 before the go-ahead run scored on a single into center that was misplayed by the Orediggers to make it 5-4 Rangers.
Renata Boyd reached in the bottom of the inning with two outs as Mines looked to rally once more, but it wasn't to be as Regis took game one 5-4.
Game two got off to a better start for Mines as they struck first on an RBI single to left by
Kayleigh Krueger to score Karraker after she reached with a one-out single.
Taylor Wayne (1-2) worked a clean second inning before the Rangers scored five unearned runs in the third to take the lead. Trouble started right away in the inning with a leadoff error, and after a sacrifice bunt and a walk, back-to-back singles tied the game for Regis and loaded the bases before a walk forced home the go-ahead run. After a strikeout, another miscue on defense by Mines allowed to more runs to score followed by an RBI single to make it 5-1.
The Orediggers looked to rally the next half inning, as with bases loaded a fielder's choice by Krueger scored Aragon before Larson doubled down the left field line to score Karraker and make it 5-3 before the inning ended.
Unfortunately, the score didn't stay close for too much longer as the Rangers score six runs in the top of the fifth with an RBI triple and an RBI single before a three-run home run into the wind and a two-out run-scoring single made it an 11-3 game and brought the eight-run rule into play.
Lauren Decker singled in the bottom of the fifth but was left stranded and while
Allison Westbrook worked a scoreless fifth in her second appearance in the circle this season, the Orediggers were unable to push across a run to extend the game as Regis took game two 11-3 to complete the doubleheader sweep.
NOTABLES
-Aragon went 2-4 in game one and finished the day 3-7 with a run after a rough weekend against Fort Lewis
-Boyd went 2-3 with a walk in game one
-Larson ended the day with three RBI with two coming in game one
-Karraker went 2-3 with two runs in game two and turned in a 3-7 day at the plate
-Wilson reached base three times on walks and went 1-1 with two free passes in game two
-Six different players recorded a hit in each game of the doubleheader
-Rodriguez went three innings and struck out three allowing two runs, one earned, one three hits in a no-decision in game one
-Westbrook struck out one as she worked a clean fifth inning in game two in her second appearance for Mines in her home debut
LOOKING AHEAD
The Orediggers will wrap up their series with Regis Sunday at 11 a.m. at Joe Coors, Jr. Softball Field before welcoming Colorado Christian in a four-game set next weekend.
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.
