LAKEWOOD, Colo. -- The Chadron State College softball team was defeated 2-0 and 8-7 in Sunday's doubleheader against Colorado School of Mines, falling to 0-12 overall and 0-2 in RMAC play to begin the season.
 
The Orediggers improve to 5-3 overall and 2-0 in Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference play.  
 
The two games were complete opposites of each other, one being a defensive battle while offenses exploded in game two.
 
In game one, Colorado School of Mines scored a single run in the bottom of the first and fourth innings. In the bottom of the first inning, starting pitcher Kenzi Garner forced the first two batters to ground and fly out.
 
The Orediggers third batter reached on a fielding error before their fourth batter, Trystin Oshiro-Sano, hit a ball to left field which resulted in another Eagle fielding error and an Oredigger run.
 
Colorado School of Mines had the bases loaded in the bottom of the third inning after CSC's third defensive error but the Garner forced a flyout to right field to retire the side.
 
The Orediggers final run occurred on a solo homerun with two outs in the bottom of the fourth inning. The Eagles only had one baserunner in the remaining three innings.
 
Garner, a junior from Broomfield, Colorado, allowed four hits and two runs, one being earned, in six innings of work. She walked one batter and struck out five.
 
Sadriena Rodriguez received the win for the Orediggers. Rodriguez allowed three hits while striking out eight batters in seven innings.
 
The hosts exploded for an early 6-0 lead to start game two of the double header. After CSC had three consecutive outs to begin the game, the Orediggers had a total of 11 batters, six runs and hits and two runners left on base in the bottom of the first. The Eagle defense had one error.
 
Chadron State added one run in the top of the second inning. With the bases loaded and zero outs, Allie Medrano, a sophomore from Thornton, Colorado, hit a sacrifice fly that scored Jolynn Niegocki. CSC's next two batters reached on fielders' choices.
 
Scoring was halted until the top of the fourth inning when CSC scored four runs to make the score 6-5.
 
With two outs and runners on second and third, Sophia Brennan, a freshman from Wahoo, Nebraska, singled through the left size for an RBI single.
 
The Eagle's next batter, Brady Laucomer, a sophomore from Scottsbluff, Nebraska, immediately brought Brennan and Lauren Zimmerman home with a three-run homer to left field, making the score 6-5.
 
CSC tied the game in the next inning when Ashland Baca, a senior from Pueblo West, Colorado, hit a solo homerun to left center.
 
More excitement began in the bottom of the sixth inning when Colorado School of Mines gained a 7-6 lead. The Orediggers began the bottom half of the inning with a base hit, a sacrifice bunt and an RBI single down the right line. CSC's defense recorded two quick outs to leave two runners on base.
 
With the game on the line, Laucomer started the seventh inning with a single down the left field line and advanced to second base on a throwing error. A sacrifice bunt by Devyn Thornton advanced Laucomer to third base.
 
Head Coach Kaley Ness called for a pinch hitter, bringing Jazlyn Arvizo to the plate. Arvizo, a sophomore from Denver, Colorado, hit a deep fly out to left field that scored Laucomer and tied the game at seven. Jessie Henchenski drew a walk but the Eagles next batter flew out to end the half inning.  
 
Colorado School of Mine's first two batters struck out looking to begin the bottom of the seventh inning. After a batter singled to shortstop and stole second, a single down the right field line brought the game winning run home.
 
Brooklyn Levin received the loss on the mound for CSC. The freshman from Littleton, Colorado, allowed 15 hits and eight runs, seven being earned, in 6.2 innings of work. She struck out six batters and only walked one.
 
Colorado School of Mines had 15 hits in the win compared to CSC's seven hits. Lacuomer had a game high three RBIs.
 
The two teams will play another double header tomorrow on Colorado Christians campus. Game one is set to begin at 11 a.m.