LAS VEGAS, N.M. – The Colorado School of Mines Baseball team earned two wins Saturday by scores of 13-11 and 17-5 during its doubleheader at New Mexico Highlands.
 
Nine different Orediggers posted a batting average over .300 for the twin bill. Alex Dunagan topped the list, hitting .625 with six runs and eight RBI thanks to two doubles, two triples, and one single. Brody Duvall was right behind with a .571 average. He posted six runs and three RBI on a double and three singles. Also notable was a home run from Ben Leiphart, six RBI and a triple for Evan Bilter, and a double by Justin Holcomb. Alex Honeyman and Will Niles were Mines' starting pitchers. Honeyman didn't factor in his decision, but Niles (1-2) earned the win after spinning 5.0 innings of three-run baseball with one strikeout and zero walks. Jackson Kay (2-0) was the other winning pitcher after he provided 2.0 innings of no-hit, shutout relief. Tai Nguyen added a shutout inning out of the bullpen as well. Alex Piscotty and Nicholas Spidel also saw work on the mound.
 
Mines (8-13, 5-2 RMAC) rode its bats to the two wins, hitting .377 as a team while slugging .565 thanks to four doubles, three triples, and one home run. New Mexico Highlands (5-16, 0-7 RMAC) produced a .373 team batting average and hit three home runs. However, seven fielding errors hindered the Cowboys' efforts. The Oredigger pitching staff combined for six strikeouts and just two walks with a staff ERA of 10.29. In comparison, NMHU pitchers accumulated a 17.36 ERA with seven strikeouts, eight walks, and five hit batters.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
After coming from behind during Friday's opener, Mines pulled off another rally in the first game of Saturday's doubleheader. New Mexico Highlands put the visitors in an early hole with five runs in the first winning. A Dunagan double and Bilter triple provided the Orediggers three runs in the third frame, but the Cowboys added four more in the same inning and extended their lead to 9-3. Leiphart's leadoff home run in the fourth inning kept Mines within striking distance, but was offset by a pair for the home team in the bottom of the fourth. That made the score 11-4 with three innings to play. Then, the Oredigger offense truly came alive, scoring five runs in the fifth, one in the sixth, and three in the seventh. It was the trio in final inning that pushed Mines ahead when Duvall hit a two-out double to left-center field and plated Justin Kubojiri, Tyler Easter, and Tyler Hummel. Kay shrugged off hitting a batter with three straight outs to close out the win.
 
The second game of the day and the third of the series was all Orediggers. Bilter's RBI-single sparked a three-run first inning for Mines. Despite two runs for NMHU in the opening frame, the decision was never in doubt. The Orediggers exploded for eight runs in the third inning with Dunagan's two-run double as the highlight. They kept stacking runs with three in the fourth, two in the sixth, and an exclamation point in the final inning. New Mexico Highlands' only scoring during that span was a one-run single and a two-run home run to make the final tally. Niles handed the ball to Piscotty and the rest was history.
 
NOTABLES
- Mines is now 46-32 against New Mexico Highlands since 2008 and 9-1 in its last 10 meetings with the Cowboys. The Orediggers haven't lost to NMHU since March 29, 2024.
- Leiphart now has three home runs in 2026 and is hitting .400 with 17 runs, 14 RBI, and three doubles.
- Bilter touts an active 15-game hitting streak. Leiphart's streak is up to 10.
- Dunagan continues to lead Mines with 24 runs and 12 doubles to go along with two triples and two home runs. He's hitting .380 and slugging .658 so far this season.
- Head Coach Robby Bales is now 167-153 in his eighth season at the helm.
 
WHAT'S NEXT
Mines and New Mexico Highlands close their RMAC series on Sunday at noon in Las Vegas, N.M.
 
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.