MANSFIELD, Texas – The Colorado School of Mines softball team opened their 2026 season Friday morning at the Top DII Lone Star College Classic with an opening day split against Texas A&M Kingsville and 24th-ranked Missouri Southern. After scoring first and falling behind in the opener against the Javelinas (1-1), the Orediggers (1-1) rallied for a 10-7 win on the strength of a five-run seventh before coming out on the short end in their second game of the day with the Lions (2-0) by a score of 7-1.
 
A three-run top of the first saw the Orediggers claim the first lead of the season. Four straight walks by Lauren Romero, Kendall Aragon, Emily Rogers and Katie Bauer resulted in a run before an error on a sacrifice fly from Emiaj Self saw two more runs cross before a rundown ended the inning. Texas A&M Kingsville came back with two runs in the home first, taking advantage of five free passes in the inning to make it a one-run game at 3-2.
 
TAMUK kept their offense rolling the bottom of the second, loading the bases with one out and chasing starter Ellen Shull from the game. A two-run error followed by a walk and a two-run single saw the lead change hands at 6-3 heading to the third. Following a scoreless third, Mines responded with a pair of two-out runs in the top of the fourth. Freshman Kylie Bickford reached on an error to get the rally started before advancing to second on a sac bunt. After a groundout advanced her to third, Lauren Romero worked a full count walk before an error on a pickoff attempt allowed Bickford to score from third. Kendall Aragon kept the line moving with a walk before Emily Rogers lined a single to right field to bring home Romero and make it 6-5.
 
After a 1-2-3 fifth inning both ways, Texas A&M Kingsville tacked on an insurance run with an RBI single to center by Alaunah Almaraz that scored Seleste Compian to make it a two-run game after she led off the frame with a walk. Down 7-5 heading to the seventh, the Orediggers rallied once more to plate five runs and take the lead. Romero led off with a single back through the box and after being replaced on base by Aragon following a fielder's choice, Rogers reached on an infield single to put two on with one out. Bauer stepped back to the plate and delivered a full-count triple the other way to right field that scored a pair and tied things up at 7-7. Emiaj Self, who delivered a key defensive play two innings prior, followed with an RBI single to center before speeding around to score on an RBI double from Lindy French to left center. Following a fielder's choice off the bat of Bickford that saw French out in a rundown, Lia Lopez laced an RBI single to right center to score the freshman and make it 10-7.
 
In the circle, Kat Miller (1-0) looked to close things out following the latest lead change and complete the comeback. After taking over in relief in the second and working a pair of 1-2-3 innings along the way, the senior from nearby Coppell got a pair of quick outs to start the home seventh and after working around a single through the left side, induced a flyout to Aragon in shallow center to cap off the season-opening win.
 
After a combined 17 runs went on the board in the opener, offense was at much more of a premium in the second action of the day against #24 Missouri Southern. A scoreless opening frame saw the Lions get on the board first thanks to a two-out bases loaded infield single back to the circle by Bailey Dillon that scored Emily Perry. Mines came right back in the top of the third to tie things at 1-1 as Kylie Bickford scored with two outs on a ball four wild pitch to Lauren Romero. Following another scoreless inning in the fourth, MSSU retook the lead with three runs in the fifth by way of a pair of RBI singles and a double steal of second and home against starter Taylor Wayne (0-1) to make it a 4-1 game.
 
In the sixth, the Orediggers had a prime chance to get some runs back as Kendall Aragon walked to lead off the inning before being joined on base by Brooke Gonzales two batters later with a walk of her own. Unfortunately, MSSU's Emily Davis managed to tightrope out of trouble with a strikeout to end the inning and maintain the three-run separation. The Lions added on in the home sixth, chasing Wayne with a runner at third and one out before scoring three times against reliever Rylee Church to extend their lead to 7-1. A second seventh-inning rally was not to be as MSSU retied a parade of Oredigger pinch hitters in order to close out the win.
 
NOTABLES
-In her first career start in the season opener, Bauer went 2-3 with a game-tying triple, three RBI and a run scored
-Lopez went 1-2 with an RBI and a walk in the opener
-French, playing in her first game since March 28 of last season, debuted at first base in the opener and went 1-3 with a double, an RBI and a walk
-Miller earned the win in relief in game one, working the final 5.2 innings and allowing three runs (two earned) on four hits with a strikeout
-Romero hit safely in both games, going 3-4 with three walks and two runs scored on the day
-Bickford got the opening day start at third base in both games in her Mines debut and collected her first career hit in game two while fielding 1.000 in five chances defensively
-Aragon scored twice and worked two walks in game one while working another walk, recording a hit and an outfield assist in game two
-Rogers went 2-3 with an RBI, a walk and two runs in the opener
-Self went 2-3 with two RBI and a run scored in game one
-Gonzales went 1-2 with a walk in game two while also making her defensive debut at first base
-Wayne started strong in her first outing of the season, striking out a pair in 5.1 innings while being charged with six runs on nine hits
-Sydney Pendowski debuted as a pinch runner in game two in her first appearance as an Oredigger, while Ryen Herman made her first career start at catcher in game two
-Church also made her collegiate debut in game two, working the final 2/3 of the sixth inning in relief of Wayne
-Mines won their season opener for the second time in the last three seasons and the first time under the guidance of head coach Tobin Echo-Hawk
 
ON DECK
Mines continues their weekend in Texas with a single game Saturday at 2 p.m. CT against Emporia State.
 
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.