MINES SOFTBALL SQUAD FALLS TWICE TO HIGHLANDS

GOLDEN, Colo. - The Colorado School of Mines softball team dropped a pair of games to New Mexico Highlands in Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference action Saturday afternoon at CSM Field. The Cowgirls won the opener, 8-3, and took the nightcap, 6-5.

In game one, NMHU (18-20, 15-14 RMAC) scored three runs in the top of the seventh to break open a 5-3 game. Marlayna Aden did the damage with a three-run homer, her third of the season. She finished the game 3-for-4 with three runs batted in and scored two times. Jamie Ruhland also drove in two for NMHU.

CSM (19-23, 8-18 RMAC) was led by freshman second baseman Melissa Stratton (Aurora, Colo./Smoky Hill) who was 2-for-3 with a run and an RBI. Sophomore third baseman Brianne Brennan (Grand Junction, Colo./Central) and senior pitcher Melanie Mahoney (Erie, Colo./Colorado State) each drove in one run.

Mahoney took the loss and slipped to 13-13 this season after pitching a complete game. She allowed 10 hits and eight runs, six earned, while striking out two.

Lynette Hicks picked up the win (8-11) after throwing a complete game, six hitter and fanning two.

In game two, CSM took a 1-0 lead in the second on a solo homer from freshman first baseman Rissa Laubhan (Arvada, Colo./Ralston Valley). After the Cowgirls took a 3-1 lead in the top of the fifth, Mines regained a 4-3 lead with three tallies in the fifth on a three-run double from Brennan.

However, NMHU scored three more in the sixth inning to claim the win.

Stratton went 3-for-4 with a run, while Brennan was 2-for-3 with three RBI.

Senior Kim Kilmer (Stoneham, Colo./Prairie) took the loss and fell to 4-9 after allowing six runs (five earned) on 10 hits over 5 2/3 innings.

Keri Evans pitched five innings, allowing four runs on eight hits to earn the win (9-8), while Hicks picked up her first save of the year.

The two teams will conclude their four-game series on Sunday with another doubleheader slated to begin at 10:00 am at CSM Field.

-- OREDIGGERS --