Game 1 – CSM 9, FLC 0 (5 innings)
Game 2 – CSM 11, FLC 8
 
DURANGO, Colo. — Four big innings led No. 12 Colorado Mines (25-4-1 overall, 16-2 in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference) to a two-game sweep of Fort Lewis (7-18, 5-15) Saturday at Aspen Field.
 
The Orediggers scored nine runs in the top of the fifth to beat the Skyhawks 9-0 in the opener, a game shortened to five innings due to the eight-run rule. They put up all 11 of their runs in three frames in the nightcap to defeat FLC 11-8.
 
Skyhawk ace Kassie Haubert (3-9) picked up right where she left off yesterday — when she beat CSM 2-1 — by retiring the first seven batters she faced in today's opener. In fact, she carried a one-hitter into the fifth having allowed just one hit.
 
But when the wheels came off in the fifth, they came off quickly. After Haubert retired the leadoff hitter, Molly Thiebaut drove a double into the gap in right center and Gianna Duncan singled through the left side. Haubert struck out the next batter to nearly work herself out of a jam, but the next batters reached base safely. Three walks, two errors and a wild pitch complicated things for FLC.
 
The nine runs proved to be eight more than CSM starter Kelly Unkrich (15-1) needed, as she threw a three-hit shutout, striking out five.
 
Fort Lewis nearly took an early lead as they loaded the bases in the first, only to see Mines squelch their rally by picking off a runner at third and inducing a groundout to end the inning. After the first inning, FLC managed just two baserunners.
 
Duncan went 2-for-2 with an RBI for CSM in the opener, while Thiebaut was 2-for-3 with a pair of runs scored.
 
Fort Lewis' three hits were all singles, by Missy Fundora, Kaitlyn Bending and Kaylynn Harmon.
 
The nightcap started out with a bang for FLC as freshman catcher Tehenia Telliano smashed a grand slam over the fence in left center — her first collegiate homer — to stake the Skyhawks to a 4-0 lead.
 
But Mines grabbed the lead for good in the third by pushing across six runs on four hits. Courtney Derus delivered the big blow with a two-run single to left.
 
The Orediggers added three more in the fourth by spraying three singles and capitalizing on two FLC errors. Derus drove in her third run of the game with a single through the left side.
 
Down 9-4, the Skyhawks trimmed the lead to a single run in the fifth by scattering four hits, including an RBI double down the left field line by Fundora.
 
The Orediggers bought some insurance in the top of the seventh when pinch hitter Paige Coufal hit a two-run homer to left center to reclaim momentum for her team.
 
Ashley Goletz (10-3) hung on for the win for the Orediggers, allowing eight runs (seven earned) on 11 hits while striking out four in 4.2 innings in the circle. Unkrich pitched the final 2.1 innings in relief to earn her third save of the year.
 
Derus went 2-for-4 with three RBI and two runs to lead the Mines offense, while Melissa Marshall was 2-for-4 with a pair of RBI and a run.
 
Victoria Johnson (2-7) lasted just 2.2 innings for FLC, allowing six runs (five earned) on five hits. Katie Watkins surrendered five runs in 4.1 innings of relief on six hits.
 
Fundora went 3-for-5 with two runs and an RBI for FLC, while Bending, Telliano, Myndee Thompson and Mariah Stuart each had two hits.
 
Fort Lewis outhit CSM 12-11 in the nightcap and drew six drew five free passes (Chelsea Rodriguez had three straight walks).
 
“We were able to put some timely hitting together,” said FLC assistant coach Erin Holloway, who filled in for head coach Kira Zeiter this weekend to allow the Skyhawk skipper to attend her father's funeral services. Bruce Zeiter died in a car crash. “That game could have gone either way. A hit or two could have made the difference.”
 
Still, Holloway praised her team for their spirit and resolve.
 
“More or less, the fight that we had in the second game to fight after getting down proved that we can compete with everyone. I think we came together as a team at this point,” she said.
 
With just four weeks left in the RMAC regular season, the Skyhawks have to jump past four teams to earn a RMAC playoff berth. They'll see two of those teams next weekend, when they travel to Chadron,  Neb., for “quad” games against Chadron State (10-15, 8-10) and Metro State (12-17, 5-12). FLC will play the host Eagles at 2 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. Sunday and the Roadrunners at noon both days.