MINES SOFTBALL SPLITS TWO WITH NEBRASKA-KEARNEY

GOLDEN, Colo. - The Colorado School of Mines softball team split a pair of games to open its conference season on Saturday afternoon in Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference action at CSM Field. The Orediggers won the opener in five innings, 10-2, but dropped game two, 6-4, in eight innings.

In game one, Mines scored 10 runs in the first inning to claim the win. Freshman shortstip Stacie LaRocque (Erie, Colo./Monarch), senior pitcher Melanie Mahoney (Erie, Colo./Colorado State), junior catcher Andi Eickelman (Pueblo, Colo./Pueblo East) and junior centerfielder Brittany McKenzie (Pueblo, Colo./Pueblo South) each drove in two runs.

Mahoney threw a complete-game, allowing six hits.

In game two, CSM (6-2, 1-1 RMAC) held a 3-2 lead heading into the seventh inning, but the Lopers tacked on a run to tie the game and send it into extra innings. In the top of the eighth, Ashley Speak led off with a homer and Brandi Greenwood followed with another solo shot. UNK added a third run and Mahoney blasted a solo homer to lead off the bottom of the eighth for Mines.

Mahoney, who went seven innings in game two, allowed five runs and struck out four. She was also 2-for-4 with two runs batted in at the plate.

Kristin Muehling picked up the win for Kearney. She went the distance, allowing just four runs, two earned, and striking out three.

The two teams will conclude their four-game series with another twinbill Sunday. First pitch is scheduled for 11:00 am.

-- OREDIGGER --