The Colorado School of Mines baseball team hit a whopping 12 home runs last weekend as they split 2-2 with New Mexico Highlands University in Las Vegas, N.M. The Oiediggers currently stand at .500 with a 17-17 overall record in 2002, while they own a 3-9 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference record. Mines dropped a 5-6 loss in game one, as junior lefty Ray Surface allowed six runs, five earned, on 16 hits with five strikeouts and three walks in 9.2 innings of action. Senior center fielder Terry Packer went three-for-five on the day with two hits and two RBI and one home run.

Sophomore right-hander Matt Gilbreath grabbed his fifth win of the season in game two of the series as the Orediggers beat the Cowboys 13-6 in seven innings. Gilbreath allowed six runs on 11 hits with seven strikeouts and four walks as he now stands at 5-2 on the season. Packer hit two more home runs in the game, while junior left fielder Jordan Rudel and freshman third baseman Steven Krier both went yard in the game as well. Senior designated hitter Ryan Phillips went two-for-four in the game with four RBI and two runs as he hit his first career grand slam.

The `Diggers lost 11-16 in game three of the series. Mines was up 6-0 halfway through the third inning, but a nine-run bottom of the third for NMHU gave Highlands a lead they would never relinquish. Junior lefty Chris Michna took the loss as he allowed 11 runs on 11 hits in three innings of action. Packer homered again in game three, while junior first baseman Ryan Hessler also grabbed his first career home run as an Oredigger.

Mines took revenge over Highlands in game four, as Phillips went the distance for the `Diggers, pitching all nine innings while allowing only four runs on eight hits with six strikeouts and one walk. The `Digger bats were hot again, as junior right fielder Ross Tobin hit his first home run of the season, Rudel contributed his second and third of the weekend, and sophomore DH Ryan Ishino hit his third of the season.

Packer went eight-for-15 on the weekend with 11 RBI, nine runs, and four home runs, while Hessler went 10-for-16 at the dish for the `Diggers.

Head coach Mike Mulvaney and his Orediggers prepare to play the NCAA I Air Force Academy Falcons Wednesday at 2 p.m. in Colorado Springs, and they will host Regis University April 12, 13, and 14 in Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference action at the `Digger Dome in Golden.