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.

Zutavern places fifth at RMCO

GOLDEN, Colo. -- Bryan Zutavern led a handful of Chadron State men's wrestlers with a fifth-place finish at the 2024 Rocky Mountain Collegiate Open in Golden, Colorado on Sunday.
 
Zutavern, a senior from Dunning, Nebraska, began his day by suffering a fall to Myles Johnson from Air Force but responded with three consecutive victories.
 
After receiving a bye in the first round of consolations, Zutaven pinned his opponent in 5:59 to win. In his next match, he won with a fall in 4:37 before winning with a 13-10 decision for fifth place.
 
A total of four other Eagles wrestled in the open as attached athletes. Of those four athletes, Skyler Geier-Dodson, Adam Kruse and Harrison Gocke each finished 1-2.
 
Geier-Dodson, a junior from North Platte, Nebraska, suffered a 14-13 decision in round one before responding with a fall in 5:43. The junior lost due to sudden victory – 1 to have his day ended.
 
At 149 pounds, Kruse began his day with an 8-6 decision. The sophomore from Omaha, Nebraska, was defeated by tech fall and major decision in his following two matches.
 
Gocke, a senior from York, Nebraska, pinned his first opponent in 1:41 at 165 pounds. After suffering a 12-4 major decision, he was pinned in 4:45 in the consolation quarterfinals.
 
Next on the schedule for Chadron State wrestling is NCAA Regionals on March 1 in Pueblo, Colorado.

More personal bests set in Spearfish

SPEARFISH, S.D. --  A handful of personal best performances and conference meet qualifying times and marks were set by a group of athletes that performed at the Stinger Open in Spearfish, South Dakota, on Saturday.
 
The meet was highlighted on the track by Caydince Groth and Esosa Iyengunmwena. Groth, a junior from Cheyenne, Wyoming, won the 60-meter dash and 200 meters. Groth hit some massive personal bests in the 60 (7.91) and the 200 (25.62), moving herself up in both events and most likely earning herself a spot in the 200 at the conference meet.
 
Iyengunmwena, a sophomore from Ikorodu, Nigeria, finished second in the 60-meter dash with a time of 6.95 seconds, most likely earning himself a spot in the conference championships.
 
Brandon Werkele, a sophomore from Gillette, Wyoming, ran the 200 in 22.46 seconds to place second, giving himself an outside shot at qualifying for RMAC's.
 
Ivy Hise took six second off her time in the 800 meters for a new personal best while Zelma Rudd knocked seven second off of the mile.
 
In the field, Will Stemler massively improved his shot mark by almost a meter, solidifying himself a spot at the conference meet and placing third. Trinity Chrisawn also improved her shot-put mark and now has an outside shot at making the meet next weekend.
 
A group of Eagles medaled but were unable to improve their conference rank. On the men's side, Jacob Jefferson finished second in the 400, Alec Penfield received silver in high jump, Christopher Jennings won the weight throw and Emory Yoosook won the long jump, one spot ahead of Iyengunmwena.
 
Destinly Pelton and Megan Baloun tied for third in the women's high jump while Chrisawn placed fourth in the shot put and second in the weight throw.
 
Chadron State joins the rest of the RMAC on Friday and Saturday for the RMAC Indoor Championships in Spearfish, South Dakota.