GOLDEN, Colo. – It was a historic Sunday at Joe Coors, Jr. Softball Field as the Colorado School of Mines softball team resumed Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference action with the first two games of a four-game series against Chadron State. The Orediggers (13-27, 12-17) came from behind in both games, rally from 3-0 and 7-0 deficits to record 9-5 and 9-7 wins over the Eagles (12-24, 8-22), but it was Cassidy Chvatal who shined the brightest on the day, as the senior from Broomfield homered in each game of the twin bill and broke the program single-season home run record with a three-run blast in the opener.
 
The afternoon got off to an ominous start in game one as Chadron State plated three runs in the first, sending seven batters to the plate as the big blow of the inning as a two-run double by Sophia Brennan with two outs.
 
Mines managed four hits in the first two innings but left four on base as it took a turn through the lineup to finally solve Tori Haug in the circle before hanging up crooked numbers in both the third and fourth innings. Emiaj Self kicked things off in the home half of the third with a five-pitch walk before consecutive singles by Kendall Aragon and Chvatal loaded the bases with no outs. Lexie Semeyn followed with a sacrifice fly in foul territory down the left field line to get on the board as Self scored before Hannah Roberts went the other way with a single to right field to plate Aragon. Chvatal, who went first to third on the ball off the bat of Roberts, tied things at three as a fielder's choice out to second from Emily Rogers looked like a potential 4-6-3 double play, but a error on the initial throw saw everyone end up safe. Following a flyout to center, Mia Lopez singled back through the box to score Roberts to take the lead 4-3.
 
After Allison Westbrook (3-4) went 1-2-3 in the top of the fourth, the Orediggers kept it going in the bottom of the inning as once again, Self was the catalyst and led off with a ringing double to left center. A bunt single to third by Aragon brough Chvatal back to the dish, as the Broomfield native needed just two pitches to break the game wide-open and make history, launching a titanic fly ball down the left field line that stayed fair just long enough to make history and extend the lead to 7-4. That forced a pitching change as Belle Akins took over and was welcomed to the game with a double off the wall in left by Semeyn as the inning continued. After a strikeout, singles by Rogers and Romero loaded the bases with one out before a sac fly from Lopez plated Semeyn to make it 8-3. Rogers scored the final run of the inning on a timing play in which Romero stayed in a run down between first and second long enough to allow her sophomore running make to score and make it a six-run lead.
 
Westbrook, who turned in a stellar start last weekend against Black Hills State, kept it going Sunday against the Eagles as after the rocky first, she dazzled home crowd as she worked out of danger to strand a pair of runners in the fifth before stranding another runner in the sixth before handing the ball to Taylor Wayne in the seventh.
 
The Eagles looked to rally against Wayne with their final three outs as Kendall Petty worked a leadoff walk before Emma Thorngren and Destrie Greiman delivered a single and walk off the bench to load the bases. A fielder's choice force at third plated a run and after another walk loaded the bases again, Brennan singled to right field to make it 9-5 and keep the bases full of Eagles. With two runs across and things in danger of cascading, Wayne buckled down to get a strikeout before the game ended with an obstruction call on J'Lyssa Martinez between second and third as she collided with Self on a slow roller as Mines took the opener.
 
It was a similar start to game two as Mines found themselves down 3-0 after an inning as a two-run double by Lauren Zimmerman and a Brogan Allen sac fly against Taylor Wayne quickly put the Eagles ahead. After a 1-2-3 second for both teams, CSC doubled the lead to six in the third as Martinez homered to right field with two runners on. A seventh run crossed in the top of the fourth on an RBI single by Zimmerman as the Orediggers found themselves staring at a potential run-rule situation after just three and a half innings.
 
No strangers to come-from-behind performances, Mines summoned an epic rally in the home fourth, scoring nine runs as 11 batters come to the plate in an inning that changed the complexion of the game. Kendall Araon led of with a single to right center before Cassidy Chvatal went the other way with two strikes, launching fly ball to right center that cleared the scoreboard by plenty to get on the board and make it 7-2. Lexie Semeyn was next in line and worked a six-pitch walk before Emily Rogers stepped in and stepped out, hammering another two-strike offering over the wall in left center to quickly cut the deficit to three. CSC starter Kenzie Garner ceded the ball the Akins for her second appearance of the day, but the relief was slow to come for the Eagles as Kailey Morales took the first pitch she saw to right center for a single. Lauren Romero doubled to left center moments later as Morales wheeled all the way around from first to score. Mia Lopez singled up the middle to put runners on the corners for Kellan Ton, who dropped a single on the line in left to plate Romero and make it a 7-6 game. Emiaj Self's sac bunt as the ninth batter of the inning was the first out and kept the line moving for Aragon, who singled up the middle to score both Lopez and Ton as obstruction was called at home plate as Mines took the lead 9-7.
 
Those nine runs turned out to be just what Kat Miller (6-10) needed to close things out. After coming on in relief with one out in the third and giving up a lone run in the fourth, the junior righty continued her string of good work into the month of April, working a 1-2-3 fifth with two strikeouts before stranding three runners over the final two frames to close out the win and complete the Sunday sweep.
 
NOTABLES
-Chvatal homered twice on the afternoon as part of a 3-7 day with five RBI as she went deep in each game, marking the fifth time this season she has homered multiple times on the same day and has now homered in consecutive games six times this season; she also extended her RMAC home run lead to three over CMU's Myah Arrieta is now tied for the NCAA Division II national lead with West Texas A&M's Emilee Boyer
-The senior's three-run blast in game one put in her sole possession of first in the record book for single-season home runs, surpassing Clara Larson (2018), Kamee Vessey (2012) and Gina Ross (2008) while securing sole possession of third all-time with 27 homers, moving past Katie Kocman (2006-09) and Sarah Van Lingen (2008-11)
-Westbrook turned in another strong performance in the circle with her game one start, working six innings and tying a career-high with six strikeouts as she bounced from allowing three early runs to finish with five scoreless innings
-Aragon had a huge day at the plate, going 5-8 with four runs scored, two RBI and a stolen base highlighted by a 3-4 performance in game one to bump her average to .400 and run her current hitting streak to five games
-Ton went 2-4 in each game and stole a base, drove in a run and scored in game two
-Lopez's recent hot streak continued as she went 4-5 on the day, driving in two in the opener and scoring in game two
-Miller was nails in relief in game two, allowing just one run on four hits in 4.2 innings while striking out three to pick up the win
-Rogers hit safely in each game as her game two homer was her second of the season, third of her career and first at Joe Coors, Jr. Softball Field
-Romero also hit safely in each game highlighted by a double in game two as she also scored and drove in a run
-Semeyn doubled and drove in a run in game one while scoring in each game
-Self went 2-3 with a double and two runs scored in game one
 
UP NEXT
The Orediggers and Eagles wrap up the series Monday starting at 11 a.m. from Joe Coors, Jr. Softball Field.
 
Fans can keep up with Mines softball on X at @MinesSoftball and on Instagram at @mines_sb. They can also keep up with Colorado School of Mines Athletics all year long on Facebook, X and Instagram using the handle @MinesAthletics.