Mines (17-29, 14-18 RMAC) at MSU Billings (24-20, 18-11 GNAC) – Friday, 12 p.m. – Doubleheader – Billings, Mont. [Live Stats] [GNAC Network]
Mines (17-29, 14-18 RMAC) at MSU Billings (24-20, 18-11 GNAC) – Saturday, 4 p.m. – Billings, Mont. [Live Stats] [GNAC Network]
 
REGULAR-SEASON FINALE
The Colorado School of Mines is headed to Billings, Mont., this weekend where it will close out the 2026 regular season with a three-game, non-conference series at MSU Billings. It will serve as a final tuneup for the RMAC Tournament as the Orediggers have already locked in the #5 seed in the conference bracket. They cannot improve or lose that standing. So, the focus will be on postseason prep while also looking to spoil the Yellowjackets' senior weekend. Action starts with a doubleheader Friday at noon. Saturday's finale will start at 4 p.m.
 
LIVE COVERAGE
Fans can watch this weekend's games with a subscription to the GNAC Network. Purchase options include a five-day pass specific to baseball and softball for $20. There is also a monthly subscription available for $25 and an all-access pass for $120. Additionally, all of Mines' conference tournament games will be available with a subscription to the RMAC Network. There will also be free live stats linked above and at www.minesathletics.com.
 
WEATHER FORECAST
The outlook for Friday and Saturday presents potentially ideal conditions for baseball. Friday features sunny skies, minimal wind, low humidity, and a high of 73 degrees. Clouds roll in on Saturday, but the temperature should still reach 75 degrees with a light breeze, 25-percent humidity and just a 10-percent chance of rain. A light jacket and some sunscreen should suffice for fans planning to attend.
 
HIGH-POWERED OFFENSE
With three games to play in the regular season, Mines remains one of the most potent offenses in NCAA Division II. As a team, the Orediggers are #11 in the nation in batting average, #8 in total doubles, and #5 in doubles per game while sitting #27 in overall scoring. Individually, leadoff hitter and starting centerfielder Brody Duvall is #1 in the nation in hits per game and #2 in batting average. He's also #15 in total hits, #18 in on-base percentage, #19 in total triples, and #10 in runs per game. Fellow outfielder Alex Dunagan is #3 in DII in total doubles, #5 in doubles per game, and #7 in sacrifice flies.
 
RMAC OUTLOOK
Two wins against Colorado Christian last weekend helped Mines clinch the #5 seed in the RMAC Tournament. No team behind the Orediggers can catch them, and Mines cannot overtake any team in front of it in the conference standings. Additionally, Colorado Mesa is locked in as the regular-season champion, #1 seed, and host of the conference tournament. MSU Denver, UCCS, and CSU Pueblo have also clinched postseason berths, but their seeding (2-4) is up in the air. The only spot still available is the #6 seed with Regis, Colorado Christian, Adams State, and New Mexico Highlands all still in contention with four games left to play. If the season ended today, Mines would face second-seeded MSU Denver in the first round. However, MSU Denver hosts Colorado Mesa this weekend, and UCCS is just three games back of the Roadrunners. CSU Pueblo can do no better than #3.
 
LOOKING BACK
The Orediggers closed out their regular-season home and RMAC schedule last weekend, hosting Colorado Christian at Jim Darden Field while also celebrating Senior Weekend. Weather forced the series to be compacted to a doubleheader Friday and doubleheader Saturday. Mines dropped game one, 20-0, but bounced back to win game two, 9-6. On Saturday, CCU won the first game again, 13-11. The Orediggers ended on a high note with a 9-4 victory. Kenji Bray and Jackson Kay were Mines' winning pitchers. Bray earned his thanks to 4.0 innings of relief and Kay provided a complete-game effort. Brandon Schaff also picked up a save. At the plate, Brody Duvall batted .429 with eight runs on six hits including a double and a home run with four RBI and two stolen bases. Jackson Babcock, Alex Dunagan, Tyler Easter, and Tyler Pina all hit home runs. Babcock also walked four times. Dunagan stacked eight RBI and tied the program record for RBI in a single game.
 
SCOUTING MSU BILLINGS
Montana State University Billings owns an overall record 24-20 and a 18-11 mark in Great Northwest Athletic Conference (GNAC) play. The Yellowjackets are fresh off a series win against then-#23 Northwest Nazarene. Earlier this season, MSU Billings lost three games at CSU Pueblo, took three of four games at home against Regis, and was swept by Colorado Mesa in Grand Junction, Colo. As a team, the Yellowjackets are #3 in the nation in doubles per game, #12 in total doubles, and #14 in sacrifice flies. Individually, Kaden Bertram leads the offense, batting .446 with 28 runs on 70 hits including 16 doubles, one triple, and 10 home runs with 49 RBI. Also notable at the plate is Ryker Fortier who has scored 48 runs on 60 hits and River Smith who boasts 18 doubles and three home runs. On the mound, the Yellowjackets staff ERA is 5.93. Cade Queen is 4-1 in 10 starts with a 3.58 ERA fueled by 58 strikeouts compared to 31 walks in 50.1 innings of work including one complete game. Brennen Chappell is 6-5 in 11 starts with a 4.59 ERA after striking out 69 in 64.2 innings with three complete games. Sam Coxen also has 67 strikeouts and just 25 walks. Hayden Mullens owns two saves.
 
SERIES HISTORY
Mines and MSU Billings have faced off on the baseball diamond six times over the last decade with each team winning three games. The Orediggers and Yellow Jackets last played in February of 2020 in Billings, and the home team won all three games. In 2017, MSU Billings game to Golden where Mines swept the visitors. Across those two series, the Yellowjackets own a 51-47 edge in runs scored.
 
FAREWELL TO DIRT AT DARDEN
Last weekend marked the end of an era at Jim Darden Field. Since being built in 1937 as a Depression-era project of the Public Works Administration, Jim Darden Field has featured natural grass and a dirt infield. This summer, after nearly 90 years of trials and tribulations on the natural surface, Darden Field will be resurfaced with artificial turf. The upgrade was made possible by a myriad of support and generosity from the Mines administration to alumni, family, and friends of the program.
 
IN THE PROS
Over the last eight years, three Orediggers have entered baseball's professional ranks. Mikey Gangwish (2016-19) was the first as he played professionally in Australia before returning to a contract with the Evansville Otters of the independent Frontier League. He has since retired and earned his master's degree at Mines. The second was Trevor Kehe (2017-19) who was drafted in the 36th round of the MLB First-Year Player Draft by the Baltimore Orioles. He worked in the Orioles organization for three years and advanced as far as High-A ball with the Aberdeen IronBirds before retiring. Rounding out the trio is Walter Pennington (2017-20).
 
WALTER PENNINGTON
Walter Pennington is currently a free agent. He was signed as a free agent by the Kansas City Royals in the summer of 2020. Pennington spent 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023 in the Royals' minor league system where he found success including a nod to the International (AAA) All-Star team. In 2024, Pennington made his MLB debut with the Royals against the Rockies at Coors Field, just miles from his childhood home. That appearance made the Broomfield, Colo., native just the second Mines player to ever make the big leagues and the first in over a century. Eventually, Pennington was traded to the Texas Rangers for known-veteran Michael Lorenzen. Pennington moved between triple-A Round Rock and the Rangers' big-league club. For the year, the lefty's big-league resume featured a 1-0 record with a 3.00 ERA in 16 games and one start. He struck out 17 and walked 11 across 18.0 innings of work. Last year, Pennington was moved from the Texas Rangers to the Baltimore Orioles where he was eventually designated for assignment as he worked through injuries. Pennington was recently released by the Chesapeake Baysox, the double-A affiliate of the Orioles.
 
THE SKIPPER
The 2026 campaign marks Mines' eighth season with Robby Bales as head coach. During his tenure as the Oredigger skipper, Bales holds an overall record of 176-169 with a mark of 117-111 in RMAC play. He has coached his players to 27 All-RMAC awards, 19 all-region awards, eight all-America nods, seven CoSIDA Academic All-Americans, one MLB Draft Pick and had one player signed as a free agent in the MLB. Furthermore, Bales touts two RMAC Pitchers of the Year during his time at the helm including RMAC Pitcher of the Year, NCBWA South Central Region Pitcher of the Year, D2CCA South Central Region Pitcher of the Year and the RMAC's all-time wins leader in Tyler Blomster. Additionally, Bales has guided Mines to the NCAA Tournament once, and RMAC Tournament four times, advancing to the regional and conference tournament final in 2019. Bales' teams have also performed in the classroom as the squad brought home the RMAC Brechler Award in 2020, 2021, and 2023 as the team boasting the highest combined GPA in the conference.
 
LOOKING AHEAD
After the trip to Billings, Mont., Mines travels to Grand Junction, Colo., for the 2026 RMAC Baseball Tournament. The Orediggers open the postseason as the third game of opening day on Wednesday, May 6. Additional information regarding the RMAC Tournament will be available next week at www.minesathletics.com.
 
Fans can keep up with Mines baseball on Twitter at @OrediggersBSB. They can also keep up with Colorado School of Mines Athletics all year long on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram using the handle @MinesAthletics.