Mines (13-15, 9-7 RMAC) at Adams State (9-20, 4-8 RMAC) – Thursday, 2 p.m. – Alamosa, Colo. [Live Stats] [RMAC Network]
Mines (13-15, 9-7 RMAC) at Adams State (9-20, 4-8 RMAC – Friday, 12 p.m. – DH – Alamosa, Colo. [Live Stats] [RMAC Network]
Mines (13-15, 9-7 RMAC) at Adams State (9-20, 4-8 RMAC) – Saturday, 12 p.m. – Alamosa, Colo. [Live Stats] [RMAC Network]

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ON THE ROAD AGAIN
The Colorado School of Mines Baseball team has already played 17 of its 28 games away from home this season. This week, the Orediggers are back on the road for four more at Adams State in Alamosa, Colo., with a five-game win streak on the line. Action starts Thursday with a single, nine-inning game at 2 p.m. Friday's doubleheader featuring a pair of seven-inning contests begins at 12 p.m. Saturday's finale is slated for nine innings with a 12 p.m. first pitch.
 
WATCH US
Every Mines home game and all RMAC games can be seen live and for free on the RMAC Network at www.minesathletics.com/tv. Additionally, the Orediggers' home games will feature play-by-play commentary from Miles Dunklin. The RMAC Network can also be found on Apple TV, Roku, Amazon Fire and Android TV devices by going to the app store and searching "RMAC".
 
FOLLOW US
Fans can follow Colorado School of Mines Baseball on Twitter and Instagram at @OrediggersBSB. The Twitter page features in-game updates along with featured players, news and schedule updates and other applicable Mines baseball news. Instagram also includes player features, awards, and other outstanding photography from the Mines Athletics Communications staff as well as other contributors.
 
WEATHER REPORT
Thursday promises a nearly perfect day for baseball with clear skies, a high of 52 degrees, and light winds. Friday and Saturday are almost as good. Both days promise partly-cloudy skies and a high near 60 degrees. The wind will kick up as the series goes on so sun screen and layers would be wise for those planning to attend.
 
RECAPPING NEW MEXICO HIGHLANDS
The Orediggers earned their first series sweep of the season last weekend as they took four games from New Mexico Highlands inside the friendly confines of Jim Darden Field. Game one was a 15-3, run-rule victory. In game two, Mines earned its first shutout of the season with a 16-0 win. Sunday's action featured a 27-7 drubbing and a 7-6, extra-innings, walk-off thriller to clinch the sweep. There were a plethora of contributions on offense with Jackson Woolwine topping the list. He batted .750 with 11 runs on nine hits including three doubles and seven RBI. He also walked three times and was hit twice. Also notable were two home runs from Garret Nielsen and a bomb apiece from Adam Houghtaling, Trent Nielsen, and I-Ly Hsue. Among multiple stars on the mound, Blake Ripp and Kevin Zapanta stood out on the pitching staff. Ripp started the opener and earned the win behind 6.0 innings of one-hit, shutout baseball. He struck out six and walked zero while allowing just two baserunners. Zapanta started game two and earned the win thanks to 5.0 innings of work. He gave up zero runs on two hits and struck out eight with zero walks. Rodney Gregg, Gray St. Amant, and Matthew Dobberthien also provided shutout relief.
 
SCOUTING ADAMS STATE
Adams State had last weekend off which puts the Grizzlies at 9-20 to start the series while sitting 4-8 in RMAC play. The last action for ASU was a four-game set at New Mexico Highlands. The Grizzlies took three out of four from the Cowboys to snap a six-game skid. Earlier this season, Adams State was swept by Colorado Christian and dropped three of four to Regis in Denver. Notable non-conference wins for the Grizzlies included two victories against Fort Hays State and a single win against Southwestern Oklahoma State. Headlining the ASU batting order is a quartet featuring Matt Bathauer, Mike Bathauer, Jack Dere, and Joseph Raker. Matt Bathauer is hitting .415 with 17 runs on 44 hits including seven doubles and five home runs with 24 RBI. Brother Mike Bathauer touts a .406 average, 27 runs, eight doubles, one triple, four home runs, and 25 RBI. Raker is also hitting over .400 and leads the team with 30 runs. Dere's .378 average is fueled by six home runs, two triples, and nine doubles. He also boasts 36 RBI in 27 games. Cesar Loma leads the pitching staff with a 5.58 ERA in seven starts. He's 2-2, owns one complete game and touts 28 strikeouts in 30.2 innings of work. The previously mentioned Raker also boasts four saves and an 0-2 record in six appearances. His 13.50 ERA comes off 5.1 innings of work.
 
MINES AGAINST THE GRIZZLIES
Over the last 10 years, the Orediggers beaten Adams State 30 times and only lost eight. From April 14, 2017, to May 1, 2021, Mines won 12 straight against the Grizzlies. Last season, the Orediggers and ASU played their four-game series in Golden with the home team winning three of four. The teams last met in Alamosa in 2021 for a single doubleheader during a season impacted by COVID-19 protocols. Mines and Adams State split that doubleheader with the Orediggers winning the opener, 13-11, before losing the backend, 10-11. The last time Mines lost a series to ASU was 2015. The Orediggers swept the Grizzlies in 2017, 2018, and 2019.
 
RMAC PITCHER OF THE WEEK
Blake Ripp's performance against New Mexico Highlands netted the redshirt senior RMAC Pitcher of the Week distinction for the first time in his career. He started the game and needed just 79 pitches to get through 6.0 innings while allowing just two baserunners as Mines won the game, 15-3. The Overland  Park, Kan., native allowed zero runs on one hit with six strikeouts and zero walks. Only one of the two baserunners advanced past first base as he limited Cowboys' hitters to .053 at the plate. It was Ripp's first start and 10th appearance of the season. Saturday's win improved his season resume to 4-1 with a 1.65 ERA thanks to 23 strikeouts and three walks in 27.1 innings of work.
 
RMAC PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Jackson Woolwine was voted RMAC Player of the Week for his production at the plate against NMHU. The redshirt freshman earned the first award of his career after hitting .750 with 11 runs on nine hits including three doubles with seven RBI. He also walked three times and was hit twice. The 18 runs Woolwine generated accounted for more than 25 percent of Mines' offense which produced 65 runs in four games. The Orediggers' starting center fielder had three hits in game one, two hits in game two, and four hits in game three. He left the finale early but still scored at least one run in each game as the leadoff hitter. Woolwine's biggest highlight of the weekend came in Mines' 27-7 win in game three. The redshirt freshman went 4-for-5 as he scored four runs and drove in six more. Woolwine was also perfect on defense with a 1.000 fielding percentage.
 
WALTER PENNINGTON UPDATE
The 2023 Major League Baseball season is under way. For Colorado School of Mines Baseball alum Walter Pennington, the minor league season begins Thursday, April 6, with the Northwest Arkansas Naturals. They are the Double-A affiliate for the Kansas City Royals. It marks the third season in the Royals' system for the former starting Oredigger pitcher. During 2023 spring training, Pennington made six appearances for Kansas City and finished with a 4.50 ERA thanks to three strikeouts and three walks in 4.0 innings of work. He surrendered just two runs. The left-handed hurler signed a free-agent contract with the Kansas City Royals in the summer of 2020 and played the 2021 season with the organization's Low-A affiliate, the Columbia Fireflies. In 2022, Pennington started with the Royals' High-A club in the Quad Cities (Iowa). He quickly moved up to AA and finished the season with the Northwest Arkansas Naturals. In 2022, he went 6-3 with one start and a 5.19 ERA including 61 strikeouts compared to 30 walks in 67.2 innings of work. Pennington was also invited to the Arizona Fall League where he played for Surprise. He made eight appearances with two starts. He did not record a decision, but had one save, tossed 9.1 innings and struck out 10 batters while walking four.
 
IN THE PROS
Over the last five years, four Orediggers have entered baseball's professional ranks. Mikey Gangwish (2016-19) was the first as he played professionally in Australia before returning to a contract with the Evansville Otters of the independent Frontier League. He has since retired and earned his master's degree at Mines. The second was Trevor Kehe (2017-19) who was drafted in the 36th round of the MLB First-Year Player Draft by the Baltimore Orioles. He worked in the Orioles organization for three years and advanced as far as High-A ball with the Aberdeen IronBirds before retiring. Rounding out but leading the trio is Walter Pennington (2017-20).
 
THE SKIPPER
The 2023 campaign marks Mines' fifth season with Robby Bales as head coach. During his tenure as the Oredigger skipper, Bales holds an overall record of 108-75 with a mark of 67-51 in RMAC play. He has coached 14 All-RMAC players, nine all-region players, three all-Americans, one RMAC Pitcher of the Year, six CoSIDA Academic All-Americans, one MLB Draft Pick and had one player signed as a free agent in the MLB. Additionally, Bales has guided Mines to the NCAA Tournament once, and RMAC Tournament twice, advancing to the regional and conference tournament final in 2019. Bales' teams have also performed in the classroom as the squad brought home the RMAC Brechler Award in 2020 and 2021 as the team boasting the highest combined GPA in the conference.
 
WHAT'S NEXT
Mines' next action will be a five-game home stand. It starts Tuesday, April 11, at 5 p.m. with a non-conference game against NCAA Division I Northern Colorado at Jim Darden Field. The Orediggers' then roll into a four-game RMAC series at home against Regis April 14-16. Tickets for all games can be purchased online or at the gate. Live stats and video on the RMAC Network will also be offered at www.minesathletics.com.
 
Fans can keep up with Mines baseball on Twitter at @OrediggersBSB. They can also keep up with Colorado School of Mines Athletics all year long on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram using the handle @MinesAthletics.