STERLING – Freshman Paige Noehring launched her first grand slam as part of a five-run fifth inning, but Colorado School of Mines softball suffered its first setback in six games Saturday, falling 6-5 to UC-Colorado Springs at Pioneer Park in Sterling.

Reigning RMAC Player of the Week Courtney Derus opened the fifth with a solo home run, her team-leading fourth of the season and third in four games. Senior Melissa Marshall followed with her team-best fourth two-bagger; senior Gianna Duncan walked and sophomore Elise Dugwyler singled, setting up Noehring's first collegiate long ball that lifted Mines (5-6, 1-1 RMAC) to a 5-3 lead.

The Mountain Lions (3-3, 1-0 RMAC) rallied though with one in the bottom of the fifth and two in the sixth on a two-out, two-RBI double by Preseason All-RMAC selection Jessica Belsterling to halt the Orediggers' win streak at five.

Noehring closed with her third consecutive multi-hit game and fourth in the last five, hitting 2-for-4 with the season-high four RBI and one run scored.

Marshall went 3-for-3 and senior Morgan Anderson 2-for-4 as the Orediggers generated double-digit hits for the third game in a row and fourth time this season with 10.

Derus went 1-for-4, running her hitting streak to six straight with the fifth-inning leadoff homer.

Sophomore Kristen Prudhomme (5-5) was credited with her first loss in four starts, giving up four earned runs on 11 hits and three walks across the 6.0 innings.  

Mines ends the three-team, six-game round robin pod Sunday, beginning with a 12 p.m. first pitch against Chadron State.