GOLDEN, CO – It was all about the pitching until late in the game.
In a non-conference match-up, Colorado School of Mines used a pair of late game homeruns to post a 5-1 win against the Cougars in a briskly played late Saturday afternoon contest.
HOW IT HAPPENED: In the second inning Colorado School of Mines put the first run on the scoreboard, and tallied their first hit, when Noah Kuzma hit an opposite field solo homerun over the fence in the rightfield power ally. The Cougars responded in the fourth frame when Michael Spain laced a one-out single into centerfield that scored Matt Kimura from second base.
Through six innings the two starting pitches controlled the game as Justin Kiedinger had nine strikeouts while giving up just three hits. Conversely, Orediggers starter Tyler Blomster registered seven strikeouts and three hits as well.
In the eighth inning Colorado School of Mines scored four runs all with two outs. On a 2-0 pitch Derek Daly hit a two-run homerun over the rightfield fence. The righthander's hit looked initially to be a pop fly but in true Colorado thin-air fashion it carried just over the fence. Two batters later Trevor Howard hit his third homerun of the season as his two-run shot added insurance runs for the home team.
COUGAR LEADERS: Kimura went 2-for-4 while scoring the lone Cougars runs. Spain and Tommy Orr each had a single base knock.
Kiedinger was strong on the bump as he stuck out nine and allowed just three hits while walking just one in his six innings of work. His nine strikeouts were a career high.
INSIDE THE BOXSCORE
- Spain extended his hitting streak to nine games
- Zayne Williams has reached base in each game this season
- Kiedinger faced four batters over the minimum in his six innings
- The game took 2:11 to finish
UP NEXT: The Cougars travel back to Jim Darden Field tomorrow for an 11 a.m. contest against the Orediggers.
