April 10, 2002 - Packer RMAC Co-Player of the Week

Golden, Colo. - Colorado School of Mines baseball senior center fielder Terry Packer was named one of two Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference players of the week for the period ending April 10. Packer, an Omaha, Neb., native, was instrumental in the the Orediggers' split with New Mexico Highlands last weekend.

Packer went eight-for-15 on the weekend (.533), scoring nine runs and tallying 11 RBI with two doubles, four home runs, and two stolen bases in Mines' series against NMHU. The Orediggers lost 5-6 in an extra-inning game one, took game two 13-6, lost game three 11-6, and finished strong in game four with a 19-4 victory.

Packer owned a 1.467 slugging percentage on the weekend. He currently leads Mines in RBI (33), triples (6), total bases (74), stolen bases (11), steal attempts (15), total plate appearances (129), at bats (108), games played (34), and games started (33).

The Orediggers face the NCAA I Air Force Falcons today, Wednesday, at 2 p.m. in Colorado Springs. They then continue RMAC action at home beginning Friday when they host the Regis University Rangers in a four-game series at the `Digger Dome in Golden.

March 27, 2002 -- Men go 3-7 in Texas, Start 2002 off 14-12

The Colorado School of Mines baseball team went 3-7 on their annual spring break trip to Texas and New Mexico. The Sluggers went 3-1 against Eastern New Mexico, 0-3 against Tarleton State, and 0-3 against Abilene Christian as they saw some of the best baseball they will face all year against teams of the Lone Star Conference. The Orediggers then went 0-4 against the Mesa State College Mavericks, ranked first int he RMAC, last weekend to open conference play. They dropped a 6-20 decision Friday afternoon in a nine-inning contest, lost 0-1 and 6-11 in two seven inning games on Saturday, and lost 2-13 in another nine inning game in Golden on Sunday to begin Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference competition. The Orediggers are now currently 14-12 overall and 0-4 in the RMAC, while Mesa is 20-10 and 4-0, respectively.

Junior left-hander Chris Michna took the loss for the Orediggers in game one, giving up 10 runs on 10 hits with three walks in three innings as he drops his overall record to 4-2 on the season. Junior right-hander Chris King grabbed the win for Mesa, allowing six runs on 12 hits in seven innings of action to get his sixth win of the year.

The Orediggers scored six runs on 14 hits with two errors in the ball game, while Mesa scored 20 runs on 18 hits with two errors. Mines gave up 13 walks with six strikeouts while Mesa gave up two walks with nine strikeouts.

Junior left-fielder Ross Tobin went four-for-five in the game, scoring one run for the Orediggers. Freshman shortstop Matt Fritzinger hit an RBI-double in the bottom of the second inning, tallying two RBI for Mines.

Senior center fielder Evan Hoge went two-for-three with three walks for the Mavericks, scoring three runs with four RBI as he hit two home runs in the contest.

Senior right-handed pitcher Ryan Phillips pitched a seven-hitter for CSM in game two of the series, holding Mesa scoreless until the top of the seventh inning. Phillips, who was also CSMs designated hitter in the game, allowed one run with five strikeouts and only one walk in seven innings of action as his season record drops to 2-3 overall. Senior right-hander Dan Clements grabbed the win for the Mavericks, as he allowed four hits with eight strikeouts and two walks in 6.2 innings of action.

Right fielder Tobin went two-for-three for the Orediggers in game two.

Sophomore right-hander Kevin Barrett took the Oredigger loss in game three, allowing nine runs on nine hits in 1.2 innings. He was relieved by junior lefty Ray Surface, who allowed two runs (none earned) on four hits with two strikeouts and two walks for Mines. Junior right-hander Nate Miller improved his overall record to 4-4 as he grabbed the Mesa victory, allowing three runs on seven hits with three strikeouts and one walk in the game.

Tobin went two-for-two in Saturdays second game, scoring two runs and pocketing one RBI. Junior left fielder Jordan Rudel went two-for-four in the game, tallying one RBI.

Sophomore first baseman Ryan Hessler tallied 20 putouts on the day for the Orediggers, seven of which were unassisted.

Sophomore right-hander Matt Gilbreath suffered his first loss of the season as he pitched six innings for the Orediggers in game four against the Mavericks, allowing 11 runs on 13 hits with one walk and five strikeouts. Gilbreath now stands at 4-1 on the season. Junior righty Matt Bird came in to pitch the last three innings for CSM, allowing two runs on four hits with two walks and one strikeout.

Junior right hander Mike Stromenger grabbed the win for Mesa, allowing one run on four hits with two walks and six strikeouts in six innings of action.

Head coach Mike Mulvaney's Orediggers head to Pueblo next weekend to face the University of Southern Colorado in four games of conference action. The first game is scheduled for 7 p.m. Friday, March 29.