Hound baseball streak ends

Thanks primarily to Mike Deal, Colorado School of Mines ended Eastern New Mexico University’s school-record start on Sunday.

Deal, the Oredigggers’ junior first baseman, slammed a pair of three-run homers and Mines held on to win a 16-12 slugfest at Greyhound Field, salvaging the finale of the teams’ four-game series.

Senior designated hitter Kelton Hayes whacked a pair of homer for the Greyhounds (7-1), including a three-run shot in a five-run seventh, which trimmed what had been a nine-run deficit to 15-11.

The Orediggers (1-3), held to eight runs in the first three games of the series, erupted for 14 runs between the third and sixth on Sunday to turn a 3-1 deficit into a 15-6 lead.

Deal’s first three-run homer against junior right-hander Josh Stephenson (0-1) put Mines in front 4-3 in the third. He added his second three-run blast off Evan Orsak in the fourth, highlighting a five-run outburst.

The teams combined for 29 hits and seven errors — five by the Hounds — and used 11 pitchers between them.

Hayes, Tim Crafton, Clayton Young and Tyler Rutherford all finished with two hits for ENMU. Deal went 3-for-3 with two walks and three runs scored for the Orediggers, while center fielder Nick Walker went 3-for-5 and five others added a pair of hits apiece.