GOLDEN, Colo. -- April 15, 2017 -- Chadron State College softball dropped a pair of games to Colorado School of Mines in the third and fourth installments of the four-game series. The Orediggers prevailed by a score of 4-0 in both instances.
CSM jumped out to a first-inning lead in the opening stanza of each game. In the early game it was two runs on three hits and a walk. Later, in the third, Oredigger freshman infielder Clara Larson homered to add two more scores.
In the final game of the series, Mines grabbed three early runs in the first on another Larson long ball that cleared three runners. They added a fourth run in the second inning.
Mines pitcher Claire Stringfellow earned the win in the early game. She held CSC to four hits and walked only one, stranding four Eagle baserunners.
Hallie Smith limited Chadron State to five hits, but also walked two and hit two batters to give the Eagles nine trips to base.
CSC stranded seven of the nine, however, and fell victim to double plays in both the fourth and seventh innings.
Eagle starting pitchers
Jessica Jarecki each hurled complete games and gave up only 13 hits and two walks in the two games combined.
Chadron State batters were held to their lowest weekend batting average of the season, hitting at a .178 clip against the Orediggers.
The Eagles remain in fourth in the RMAC standings at 18-13 in league play. They need to win two more conference games to clinch a tournament bid with no outside help. CSC is 21-21 overall.
Nebraska-Kearney visits Chadron on Tuesday for an afternoon doubleheader. The Lopers have struggled this season to an 8-42 record and are 5-19 in the MIAA, after winning 18 games in 2016. With six games remaining, UNK is in danger of matching or going beneath its lowest win total since 1978. They won 13 games in both 2013 and 2014.
Only one Loper batter, freshman outfielder Nicole Spykstra, is hitting over .300 for the season. Both Loper starting pitchers are hovering near 5.00 in season earned run average, but all in the bullpen including the top two have walked more batters than they have struck out.
Following the Kearney games, CSC continues its RMAC schedule hosting Adams State for its home finale.
