LAS VEGAS, N.M. – Mines baseball rolled to a 17-8 win Sunday afternoon at New Mexico Highlands to complete the series sweep of the Cowboys.
 
Tyler Hummel had Mines' hottest bat, going 4-for-6 at the plate with three runs, three RBI, and a double. Evan Bilter put together a three-hit day including two doubles while scoring four times and driving in one more. Jackson Babcock recorded two hits and matched Hummel's three RBI. Other highlights on offense included a home run from Alex Dunagan and additional doubles from Babcock and Leiphart. Kenji Bray (2-0) started on the mound for the Orediggers but was not part of the decision. He provided 2.0 innings of no-hit, one-run work. Grady Booth (1-1) was credited the win. He came out of the bullpen for 3.0 innings and gave up just two runs on five hits with two strikeotus and zero walks. Jackson Kay earned the save thanks to 3.1 innings of one-run, two-hit relief featuring two strikeouts and zero walks. Grady Booth, Dillon Alcouffe, Nicholas Spidel, and Joseph Steidel also came out of the bullpen for Mines.
 
The Orediggers (8-13, 5-2 RMAC) earned their first series sweep and second series win of the season thanks to a team batting average of .422. They also slugged .600 in the finale after smacking five doubles and one home run. New Mexico Highlands suffered its 11th consecutive loss after hitting .286 as a team while committing two fielding errors and posting a staff ERA of 16.00. Mines' pitchers managed an 8.00 ERA after six strikeouts and six walks. The Oredigger defense also posted its third error-free game of the season.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
Seven runs across the first two innings on Sunday put Mines in the driver's seat. New Mexico Highlands was held hitless and managed just one run after working five walks in the same span. From the third inning through the sixth inning, NMHU outscored the Orediggers, 6-1, including a four-run sixth. However, Mines' offense returned to life and exploded for two runs in the seventh, four in the eight, and three more in the ninth. The Cowboys' only response was a single run in the eighth frame. After coming out of the bullpen in the bottom of the sixth inning, Kay guided the visiting defense through a flawless seventh inning, worked past a leadoff double in the eighth inning, and needed just five pitches to finish the ninth inning and close out the win.
 
NOTABLES
- Mines is now 47-32 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.
- Dunagan is up to three home runs in 2026 and eight in his collegiate career. He's also hitting .376 for the season with 26 runs on 32 hits including 12 doubles.
- Bilter's up to nine doubles this spring and Babcock has eight. They have 38 and 29, respectively, in their careers with Bilter now tied for #16 on Mines' all-time list for doubles.
- Kay is now 2-0 with one save this season after earning a win on Saturday thanks to 2.0 innings of shutout relief.
- Bray's start on Sunday was his first in an Oredigger uniform.
- Babcock owns multiple hits in 14 of Mines' 21 games so far this season.
- Bilter extended his hitting streak to 16 games and Leiphart is up to 11.
- Head Coach Robby Bales is now 168-153 in his eighth season at the helm.
 
WHAT'S NEXT
Mines hosts a four-game RMAC series with MSU Denver next weekend, running Friday-Sunday at Jim Darden Field.
 
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.