Mines vs. CSU-Pueblo, Saturday, 12/2 p.m. [Live Stats] [Live Video]
Mines vs. CSU-Pueblo, Sunday, 11 a.m./1 p.m. [Live Stats] [Live Video]
 

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THE WEEKEND
Mines begins the stretch run towards the postseason this weekend, hosting CSU-Pueblo (8-25, 7-17 RMAC) in a four-game series beginning Saturday. Sunday's doubleheader will be the program's annual Strikeout Cancer game, with a fundraising goal of $2,000. The Orediggers (18-18, 12-12 RMAC) are looking to solidify their spot in the postseason race as they are currently fifth in the RMAC standings, while CSU-Pueblo is battling to get back into the hunt in 10th.

LAST WEEKEND
Mines got a much-needed boost by taking three of four from Adams State in a tight series that saw two of Mines' wins decided on walk-off doubles. The Orediggers won game 1 of the series 4-3 thanks to Kara Jones' game-winning double in the bottom of the seventh before ASU nipped them 7-6 in game two. Mines swept the second day with a pair of comebacks, first winning 5-2 thanks to Pua Fujinaga's inside-the-park three-run home run, then 4-3 on Clara Larson's walk-off double after Mines tied the game in the fifth.

ASATO TIES STOLEN BASE RECORD
With two swipes of second base last weekend, senior Brielle Asato tied the Mines program record for steals in a career with 45. She is knotted with Kaleigh Staff (2007-10) and former teammate Paige Noehring (2014-17). Asato is 45-for-48 in her career; this season, the speedy lead-off hitter has a team-high 11 thefts in 12 attempts.

WHO'S HOT
Mines' best bats in the Adams State series belonged to Kara Jones and Clara Larson, who each hit a scorching .636 over the four games. Jones had two doubles and a walk to notch a .667 OBP and .818 slugging percentage, while Larson's slugging was through the roof at 1.091 thanks to two doubles and a home run. Both drove in four and Larson scored five runs. In the circle, Claire Stringfellow had a 1.08 ERA in 13 innings, going 1-0 and departing with the lead in her first start to take no decision.

THE CENTURY MARK
Three Orediggers hit century milestones last weekend. Head Coach Leah Glasgow won her 100th career game, becoming the fourth coach in program history to do so; she now sits at 101 wins. On Friday, Kara Jones joined the 100-hit club and a day later, Clara Larson did the same. Mines now has five players – Jones, Larson, Sonoma Toot, Pua Fujinaga, and Katie Leiker – to record 100 career hits, with Toot Mines' active leader at 166.

BACK BACK BACK…
Sophomore Clara Larson launched her 10th home run of the season last weekend, putting her into rare company on several fronts. Larson is only the fourth Oredigger in program history to hit double-digit home runs in two seasons (she also had 10 in 2016); she is also now the ninth Oredigger to crack 20 career dingers. She has a shot at threatening the single-season mark of 15 set by Kamee Vassey in 2012 and Gina Ross in 2008, and long-term is well on track to attack the career mark of 34 set by Kaleigh Starr from 2007 to 2010.

LAST YEAR VS. CSU-PUEBLO
Mines took three out of four from CSU-Pueblo on the road last year, taking three straight after dropping the opener 8-3. Mines roared back with a 13-1 win in game two, then won 4-2 and 3-0 in the Sunday twinbill led by Hallie Smith's two-hit shutout in the finale.

SCOUTING CSU-PUEBLO
The Thunderwolves are led at the plate by Gabby Moreno, who is hitting .381, and Michaela Burpee at .354. Morgan Hatfield (20 RBI) and Burpee (18) lead the team in run production. Pueblo has struggled for power this year ranking last in the RMAC in slugging (.347) but they are one of the league's best defensive teams with a .954 fielding percentage. In the circle, the duo of K'Lee Kent (6-11, 4.27) and Hannah Anderson (2-12, 4.85) have shouldered all but 20 innings of the workload this season.

LOOKING AHEAD
Mines will spend two straight weeks on the road, first with a trip to Chadron State on April 14-15 and then across town at MSU Denver on April 21-22. The Orediggers wrap up the regular season April 28-29 hosting Colorado Christian.