SAN MARCOS, Calif. – The Colorado School of Mines baseball team opened its 2026 campaign Friday with a 14-3 loss at Cal State San Marcos.
 
Jackson Babcock had a monster day despite the loss, going 4-5 with two doubles on the way to one run and one RBI. Brody Duvall added a multi-hit day as well. Tyler Easter scored a run and walked three times. Owen Hicks also scored a run while Alex Dunagan picked up a RBI too. Alex Honeyman (0-1) was the starter and took the decision. He departed after 1.2 innings of seven-run, five-hit baseball. Honeyman struck out one and walked two. Joseph Steidel was the highlight on the mound with his 1.1 innings of scoreless relief featuring one strikeout, zero walks, and just one hit. Kenji Bray, Dillon Alcouffe, and Mateo Aldecocea also appeared in relief.
 
As a team, Mines (0-1) scored three runs on eight hits while working six walks. Cal State San Marcos tallied its 14 runs on 13 hits with six walks. Both teams had four fielding errors each. Trevor Morgan (1-0) was the winning pitcher, Mason Ali (1) earned a three-inning save, and Zech Samayoa hit a home run. Dylan Escobar was CSUSM's starting pitcher but didn't factor in the decision due to his departure after 4.2 innings.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Orediggers loaded the bases in the first inning thanks to an error and back-to-back singles off the bats of Babcock and Evan Bilter. Cal State San Marcos escaped with a zero on the board after working a groundball fielder's choice and two strikeouts. After that, the Cougars exploded for three runs in the first inning, five in the second, and three more sprinkled across the third and fourth frames. Meanwhile, Mines had baserunners in the second and third innings, but didn't score until the fourth when back-to-back walks setup a RBI for Alex Dunagan. A wild pitch in the fifth inning scored Babcock and made the score 11-2. The Orediggers' last run of the game was off a Babcock double in the sixth frame. The Cougars added three runs of insurance in their half of the seventh. Despite consecutive runs for Mines across the middle third, CSUSM's bullpen shut down the visiting offense in the seventh, eighth, and ninth.
 
NOTABLES
- Mines is now 6-3 against Cal State San Marcos since 2010.
- Brody Duvall, Drew Fairman, Owen Hicks, Keyan Lundvall, Justin Kubojiri, Kenji Bray, Dillon Alcouffe, Mateo Aldecocea, and Joseph Steidel and made their Oredigger debuts Friday.
- Evan Bilter's single gives him a nine-game hitting streak dating back to last season.
- Babcock has now reached base safely in 16 straight games including the 2025 campaign.
- Head Coach Robby Bales is now 159-141 in his eighth season at the helm.
 
WHAT'S NEXT
Mines will play a doubleheader on Saturday at Cal State San Marcos starting at 11 a.m. PT. Live video is available with a subscription through FLO College. There will also be free live stats.