MINES BASEBALL SPLITS TWO WITH KEARNEY

GOLDEN, Colo. - The Colorado School of Mines baseball team pounded out a season-high 18 hits and defeated Nebraska-Kearney, 14-6, in the first game of a Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference doubleheader Saturday afternoon at CSM Field. The 14 runs were one shy of a season-high.

The Lopers (12-18, 2-5 RMAC) won game two, 8-1, as Kyle Oldenkamp fired a complete-game, four hitter and struck out four.

In the opener, all nine players in the CSM lineup registered at least one hit, while six players posted at least two hits and three players tallied three hits.

Freshman centerfielder Nick Walker (Wheat Ridge, Colo./Wheat Ridge) went 3-for-4 with three runs and five RBI and his first collegiate homer, a grand slam.

Junior first baseman Ryan Oliver (Littleton, Colo./Heritage) added a 3-for-5 game at the plate with three doubles, two runs and an RBI, while junior third baseman Joel D'Cristina (Pueblo, Colo./Pueblo Central) was 3-for-4 with an RBI and sophomore catcher John Naccarato (Parker, Colo./Chapparel) was 2-for-3 with three runs, two RBI and a homer.

Senior Kevin Barrett (Lafayette, Colo./Centaurus) picked up the win as he went all seven innings, giving up 10 hits and six runs (two earned), while fanning four and walking just one.

Ryan Bucher finished the doubleheader 4-for-7 with four runs batted in and three runs scored.

Jason Stergiadis (3-4) took the loss in the opener for UNK, while Oliver (3-3) was tagged with the loss in game two.

The two teams will finish their four-game series with a single nine-inning game on Sunday at 12:00 pm. CSM currently leads the series, 2-1.

-- OREDIGGERS --