Mines (6-15, 1-3 RMAC) vs. New Mexico Highlands (8-12, 0-4 RMAC) – Saturday, 3 p.m. – Jim Darden Field [Live Stats] [RMAC Network]
Mines (6-15, 1-3 RMAC) vs. New Mexico Highlands (8-12, 0-4 RMAC) – Sunday, 12 p.m. – Doubleheader – Jim Darden Field [Live Stats] [RMAC Network]
Mines (6-15, 0-4 RMAC) vs. New Mexico Highlands (8-12, 0-4 RMAC) – Monday, 12 p.m. – Jim Darden Field [Live Stats] [RMAC Network]

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BACK AT HOME
The Colorado School of Mines Baseball team played 19 of its first 21 games in 2025 away from Jim Darden Field. This weekend, the Orediggers will host their first Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference games of the 2025 season. New Mexico Highlands comes to Golden, Colo., for a four-game set starting Saturday and running through Monday. The opener is a single game on Saturday at 3 p.m. Sunday includes a doubleheader at 12 p.m. Monday's finale will go off at 12 p.m.
 
SCHEDULE CHANGES
Playing baseball in the spring in Colorado always necessitates schedule changes. This weekend is no different. Fans who are used to a Friday, Saturday, Sunday format should note the shift to Saturday, Sunday, and Monday. Mines and New Mexico Highlands moved the series by one day due to Friday's weather forecast combined with the Orediggers' spring break starting Monday.
 
LIVE COVERAGE
Every Mines home game and all RMAC games can be seen live and for free on the RMAC Network at www.minesathletics.com/tv. The RMAC Network can also be found on Apple TV, Roku, Amazon Firestick, and Android TV devices by going to the app store and searching "RMAC." Fans can also follow @OrediggersBSB on "X" (formerly Twitter) and Instagram. Live stats of all games will be linked at www.minesathletics.com as well.
 
WEATHER FORECAST
Saturday features a high of 40 degrees, but promises sunshine with partly-cloudy skies as well. A light breeze just under 10 MPH is projected as well. Conditions improve Sunday with most-sunny skies and a high of 56 degrees. Monday looks to be elite thanks to a high near 70 degrees and mostly-cloudy skies. There is a chance for higher winds on Monday.
 
LAST TIME OUT
Mines opened its RMAC slate last weekend with a road series at Adams State. The Orediggers won game one by a score of 5-4. Starter Gray St. Amant claimed the win and Seaver Newby worked a save. Jackson Babcock hit a home run while Tyler Pina and Tyler Hummel combined for three doubles. Mines then dropped three straight games by respective scores of 17-12, 6-4, and 7-2. For the weekend, Jackson Woolwine batted .571 with three runs on eight hits including two doubles with five RBI. Hummel and Dunagan both hit over .400 as well. Hummel, Canon Humphreys, Mason Andrews, and Babcock notched four runs each.
 
SCOUTING NEW MEXICO HIGHLANDS
New Mexico Highlands is 8-12 (0-4 RMAC) on the year and currently riding a five-game skid. The streak started with a 6-3 loss at University of the Southwest and continued with a sweep at the hands of Colorado Mesa in Grand Junction. Half of NMHU's wins came from a series sweep against Panhandle State (NAIA). The Cowboys' offense is spearheaded by Bryant O'Neil and Carlos Chaves. O'Neil is hitting .403 with 13 runs on 27 hits including eight doubles and seven home runs with 22 RBI. Chavez touts a .343 batting average with 16 runs on 21 hits including two doubles and four home runs with 21 RBI. On the mound, Ramon Brion serves as Highlands' ace. He owns a 2-2 record and 3.62 ERA thanks to 20 strikeouts and 10 walks across 27.1 innings including one complete-game shutout. Dominick Castillo also touts a complete-game shutout. The NMHU staff ERA is 8.28 and the combined batting average is .286.
 
OREDIGGERS AGAINST THE COWBOYS
Since 2008, Mines has beaten New Mexico Highlands 39 times and lost to the Cowboys 32 times. The Orediggers are also 8-2 in their last 10 meetings with NMHU. Furthermore, Mines is 23-7 when hosting New Mexico Highlands. The last time the Orediggers lost to the Cowboys in Golden was April 15, 2022, as part of a series split at Jim Darden Field.
 
CYCLE FOR BABCOCK
Oredigger true freshman Jackson Babcock hit for the cycle against Adams State in Colorado Springs on Feb. 22. For those who don't know, hitting for the cycle in baseball involves an individual recording at least one single, one double, one triple, and one home run in the same game. Babcock became the first Mines player to hit for the cycle since Adam Houghtaling did it at Colorado Christian in 2023. Houghtaling actually hit for the cycle twice in his career with the first occurrence coming at UCCS in 2022. Babcock started his quest with a two-run home run in the top of the first inning. He notched his triple as the leadoff man in the second inning. The third baseman homered again in the fourth. It was a grand slam – his second of the season. Babcock recorded his single in the sixth inning and then doubled in the eighth inning just before the game was ended due to darkness. Overall, the League City, Texas, native finished the game 5-for-5 with five runs and six RBI. He reached base in all six plate appearances. Additionally, Babcock's five runs tied the program's single-game record.
 
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 152-121 with a mark of 96-74 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 travels to MSU Denver March 21-23 for a four-game series against the Roadrunners. Live video on the RMAC Network and live statistics will be offered free of charge with links at www.minesathletics.com.
 
Fans can keep up with Mines baseball on "X" (formerly Twitter) and Instagram at @OrediggersBSB. They can also keep up with Colorado School of Mines Athletics all year long on Facebook, "X" and Instagram using the handle @MinesAthletics.