GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. – A ninth-inning walk off spoiled the Colorado School of Mines Baseball team's 2023 RMAC Tournament opener as the Orediggers fell to Regis by a score of 8-7 at The Diamond on the campus of Colorado Mesa.
 
Mines suffered the loss despite an impressive effort from newly-crowned RMAC Pitcher of the Year. The righty started the game and tossed 7.2 innings while striking out 12 batters with three walks. Zapanta's final line included five runs on four hits and one hit batter. Blake Ripp (5-5) took the loss after coming out of the bullpen. He recorded three outs while surrendering three runs (two earned) on four hits.
 
At the plate, Adam Houghtaling dominated for the Orediggers. He went 3-for-5 with three runs and three RBI along with one home run. Mason Andrews was 2-for-5 on the day, scoring twice and notching a double. Garret Nielsen turned in a 1-for-2 outing. His lone hit was a two-run home run. Nielsen also walked twice. Jackson Woolwine recorded a double and scored a run. Luke Folsom tallied one double and one RBI as well.
 
Mines (22-24) scored its seven runs on nine hits including five hits for extra bases. Regis (29-22) scored one more run on one less hit. The Oredigger pitching staff combined for 12 strikeouts compared to four walks. Ranger pitchers had eight strikeouts and three walks. The difference in the game was one more home run for RU and two errors by Mines' defense.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
The first seven innings of the game were all Orediggers. Houghtaling and Folsom smacked back-to-back, two-out hits in the top of the first to give Mines a 1-0 lead. Andrews hit a double in the third inning and eventually scored on a balk. The lower-seeded squad blew the game open in the top of the fifth frame thanks to Houghtaling's two-run double, and Garret Nielsen's two-run homer. That pushed the Orediggers out to a 6-0 lead.
 
Meanwhile, on defense, Zapanta carried a no-hitter into the bottom of the fifth inning. He fanned one in the first, two in the second, one in the third, and two in the fifth before Regis got its first hit of the game. Even that knock was a comebacker off Zapanta's glove that ended too deep in the hole for Dunagan at second base. After five innings of action, Mines' defense had only allowed two Ranger baserunners and only one had made it past first base. Even when Regis broke up the shutout in the bottom of the sixth with a sacrifice fly, the Orediggers responded with Houghtaling's leadoff home run in the top of the seventh.
 
However, after the seventh-inning stretch, the momentum shifted drastically in favor of the higher seed. The Rangers notched a solo home run in the bottom of the seventh. Another home run in the eighth fueled a three-run inning and pulled RU within two runs of the Orediggers at 7-5. The bottom of the ninth featured one home run, a one-run single, and a walk-off error for Regis.
 
NOTABLES
- Since 2016, Mines is 11-11 in the RMAC Baseball Tournament.
- Zapanta notched his second double-digit strikeout game of the season and third of his career. He also had 13 against MSU Denver on April 29 and a program-record 15 against Adams State last season.
- Zapanta now boasts 85 strikeouts in 2023 which is fourth most in a season in program history. He touts 193 strikeouts in his career to rank #5 all-time at Mines.
- In the last 11 years, only two other Oredigger pitchers have recorded more strikeouts than Kevin Zapanta. Those are all-time leader Tyler Blomster (2017-22), and current professional pitcher Walter Pennington (2017-20).
- Garret Nielsen's home run was his 14th of 2023 which ties him for #8 in the program record book for single-season home runs.
- Nielsen also notched his 61st RBI of the season. He's now tied for #2 on Mines' all-time, single-season list. Luke Folsom had 61 RBI in 2023, and Mikey Gangwish holds the single-season record thanks to 86 in 2018.
- Houghtaling hit his eighth home run of the season with four coming in his last eight games. He also has 22 in his career at Mines which is tied for #8 in the program record book.
- Folsom moved into a tie with Trevor Kehe for career doubles by hitting the 43rd of his career.
- With his 53rd run of the season, Woolwine is tied for #11 in the program record book.
- Andrews also climbed Mines' all-time, single-season runs list. He has 51 on the year and is tied for #14 in program history.
- Head Coach Robby Bales is now 117-84 in his fifth season leading the Orediggers.
 
WHAT'S NEXT
Mines continues its trip to the 2023 RMAC Baseball Tournament on Thursday at 3 p.m. The Orediggers face the winner of Colorado Christian and Colorado Mesa. Live stats and free 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.