Mines (2-6) vs. Fort Hays State (4-3) – Friday, 11 a.m. – Doubleheader  – Jim Darden Field [Live Stats] [RMAC Network]

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HOME OPENERS
The weather tried to have its say, but the Colorado School of Mines Baseball team refused to listen. After a slight schedule shuffle, the Orediggers will open the home portion of their 2025 campaign on Friday against Fort Hays State at Jim Darden Field. The schedule previously called for two games on Saturday and one on Sunday. However, snowfall and frigid temps forced a shift. Now, Mines and FHSU will look to play two nine-inning games starting at 11 a.m. on Friday. If the Orediggers and Tigers can't get two in on Friday, they'll play the second on Saturday at midday.
 
COMPLIMENTARY ADMISSION
Due to the schedule change, no admission will be charged and tickets will not be sold for this weekend's games. Fans are invited to Jim Darden Field free of charge.
 
LIVE COVERAGE
Throughout the season, all of Mines' home games and each Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference contest will include live stats and free live video on the RMAC Network. Conference postseason play will be pay-per-view on the RMAC Network. This weekend's home openers will include play-by-play commentary from Alex Becker.
 
WEATHER FORECAST
After light snowfall and a frigid week in Golden, Colo., Friday's forecast brings a balmy vibe. Depending on which application you use, the high temperature could touch 50 degrees with partly-cloudy skies. The chance of precipitation during the day is small. Even so, the shadow of Mt. Zion, and the layout of Jim Darden Field would still call for some hefty layers.
 
SCOUTING FORT HAYS STATE
Fort Hays State started the 2025 campaign with a series split against Adams State in Kansas. Last weekend, the Tigers took two of three from East Central (Okla.). That puts FHSU at 4-3 as it makes its first road trip of the season. The Tigers' wins have come by scores of 11-7, 10-2, 2-0, and 13-3. Their losses are similar with margins of 1-2, 3-10, and 0-13. Individually, Elliott Herrmann carries the big bat for FHSU. He's hitting .400 with nine runs on eight hits including two doubles and four home runs with 11 RBI. All of those numbers, except for doubles, lead the team. He's also slugging 1.100 with four walks. On the mound, Ty Riley appears to be the pitching ace. He's 2-0 in two starts with a 0.00 ERA and 0.70 WHIP. He's struck out 15 batters and only walked three across 10.0 innings of work including part of one shutout. Brandon Chavez owns two saves thanks to a 0.00 ERA and 0.50 WHIP. His resume features six strikeouts and one walk in 6.0 innings of relief.
 
OREDIGGERS AGAINST THE TIGERS
Fort Hays State used to be a member of the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference, making its history with Mines quite lengthy. According available records, the Tigers own a 47-14 advantage in the all-time series including a 38-3 mark in RMAC play. However, the Orediggers have found success in recent history. Mines has taken seven straight from FHSU and nine of the last 10 meetings. The Orediggers swept Fort Hays State in Kansas in 2022. They also won three of four on the road in 2020. The last time Mines and FHSU played in Golden was Feb. 19-21, 2016. The two teams split that four-game series.
 
BROTHERLY LOVE
This weekend will pit two brothers against each other on the diamond. Oredigger outfielder Jackson Woolwine will go up against his younger brother Derek who's an infielder for Fort Hays State. Both brothers attended Boulder High School in Boulder, Colo. One year after Jackson arrived at Mines, Derek graduated high school and then played two years at Northeast Community College in Nebraska. The 2025 season is Derek's first at FHSU whereas Jackson is in his fourth year at Mines playing his third season of eligibility. So far in 2025, Jackson is hitting .269 with seven runs on seven hits including two doubles, two RBI, and two stolen bases. Derek's line features two runs on five hits with two doubles and one RBI to underscore a .294 average.
 
CHASING HISTORY
There are a number of Orediggers making their way into the program record book and up the all-time lists. This week we're going to focus on Mason Andrews' chase to become Mines' home run king. So far in 2025, Andrews has hit three home runs. That gives the redshirt senior 41 for his career. He's now one of two Orediggers to ever surpass 40 long balls at Mines. The other is Mikey Gangwish who currently sits #1 with 46, making Andrews five shy of tying and six bombs from breaking the all-time record. Also notable about Andrews' start to the season is that he has six hits and five have gone for extra bases. So, while his batting average is just .214, his slugging percentage is .607. And that's all we have for this week's "Chasing History."
 
LOOKING BACK
Mines traveled to California last week and played one game at Cal State San Marcos with three more at then-#5 Point Loma. The Orediggers finished the journey 1-3. They started with a 9-7 victory at CSUSM. Jackson Woolwine score three runs on three hits with one double and two RBI, Mason Andrews hit a home run, Alex Honeyman earned the win, and Seaver Newby notched the save. However, the positive start faded after a 14-4, darkness-shortened loss to Point Loma. Mines dropped the last two games by one run each, 7-6 and 4-3. Andrews had another home run in the PLNU opener. Tyler Pina hit a home run in the 7-6 contest.
 
PRESEASON ALL-AMERICAN
Oredigger redshirt senior Mason Andrews was named a Preseason Second-Team All-American by D2 Baseball earlier this month. He earned the recognition after an outstanding 2024 season in which he hit .372 with 65 runs on 67 hits including 12 doubles and 17 home runs leading to 56 RBI. The McKinney, Texas, native slugged .722 and had an on-base percentage of .464. He also stole 10 bases. For his career, Andrews boasts 153 runs on 158 hits including 33 doubles, seven triples, and 38 home runs with 131 RBI and 67 walks. Those numbers put him position to make moves in the program record book this season. Most notably, he's nine home runs away from becoming the program's all-time home run king.
 
IN THE PROS
Over the last seven years, three 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).
 
WALTER PENNINGTON
Walter Pennington had a milestone season in 2024. After spending 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023 in the Kansas City Royals minor league system, the former Oredigger left-handed pitcher broke into the big leagues. He made his MLB debut with the Royals against the Rockies at Coors Field, just miles from his childhood home. That appearance made the Broomfield, Colo., native just the second Mines player to ever make the big leagues and the first in over a century. Eventually, Pennington was traded to the Texas Rangers for known-veteran Michael Lorenzen. Pennington moved between triple-A Round Rock and the Rangers' big-league club. For the year, the lefty's big-league resume featured a 1-0 record with a 3.00 ERA in 16 games and one start. He struck out 17 and walked 11 across 18.0 innings of work. For his career in the minor leagues, Pennington is 23-11 with a 3.49 ERA in 149 appearances and four starts. He also boasts 10 saves and 258 strikeouts with 245.0 innings under his belt. To round it all out, Pennington named to the International League (AAA) All-Star team. More to come on Pennington as the season progresses.
 
THE SKIPPER
The 2025 campaign marks Mines' seventh season with Robby Bales as head coach. During his tenure as the Oredigger skipper, Bales holds an overall record of 148-112 with a mark of 95-71 in RMAC play. He has coached his players to 26 All-RMAC awards, 19 all-region awards, eight all-America nods, seven CoSIDA Academic All-Americans, one MLB Draft Pick and had one player signed as a free agent in the MLB. Furthermore, Bales touts two RMAC Pitchers of the Year during his time at the helm including RMAC Pitcher of the Year, NCBWA South Central Region Pitcher of the Year, D2CCA South Central Region Pitcher of the Year and the RMAC's all-time wins leader in Tyler Blomster. Additionally, Bales has guided Mines to the NCAA Tournament once, and RMAC Tournament four times, 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, 2021, and 2023 as the team boasting the highest combined GPA in the conference.
 
LOOKING AHEAD
Mines heads to Colorado Springs next weekend for three non-conference games against RMAC opponents. The Orediggers play Adams State on Friday at UCCS' field. They'll play the Mountain Lions on Saturday and Sunday as well. Free live stats and video on the RMAC Network will be available 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.