Feb. 6, 2009
Final Stats
UTEP vs. Kansas Box Score 
UTEP vs. No. 7 Arizona Box Score
TEMPE, Ariz. - The UTEP softball team defeated Kansas, 3-1, to open the 2009 season on Friday at the Tempe Sports Complex in Tempe, Ariz. They fell 8-5 to seventh-ranked Arizona in the nightcap.
"This was an exciting day," said co-head coach Kathleen Rodriguez. "The girls came out with a ton of fire today. I am really proud of the way they played."
Camilla Carrera hit .625, recording three runs on five hits with two doubles and one RBI and Ashley Ellis and Shea Lodes each recorded home runs.
Freshman Chelsea Troupe was impressive, going 3-for-7 (.429) with a run, a double and an RBI.
"Our freshmen played like Division I softball players," Rodriguez said. "They played like they have been doing this for a while."
Ellis' home run blast over leftfield opened the game against Kansas.
Kansas tied the game in the bottom of the fourth inning off an RBI-single, but UTEP answered back in the sixth with back-to-back singles by Stacie Townsend and Carrera. Two outs later, Jennifer Davis brought them home with a ground ball up the middle for the 3-1 victory.
"This was a huge win for us," Rodriguez said. "I don't think they expected to us to come out and play the way we did."
Townsend received the complete game victory, striking out seven batters and allowed just one run on four hits.
Amber Bennett and Carrera were 2-for-4, with Carrera scoring once and Ellis was 2-for-3 with a run and an RBI.
"We have one of the most intense schedules in this tournament - three Pac-10 schools, a Big 12 and Pacific Coast," said Rodriguez. "But we're excited about the draw we got. We have it in our mind that we can beat these teams."
The Miners brought that kind of thinking and the momentum from the victory over Kansas with them as they kept with seventh-ranked Arizona.
There was not much excitement in the first inning, as neither team was impressive at the plate.
With one out and the bases loaded, Arizona's Lauren Schultzler doubled into left field, plating Laine Roth. Brittany Lestrapes followed with an RBI-single to go ahead 2-0 in the top of the second.
UTEP answered back with a double into right-center field by Carrera. Troupe followed with a single and Jennifer Stalter brought them home with a double to tie Arizona, 2-2 after two innings of play.
A home run by Lini Koria in the top of the third gave Arizona the 3-2 lead.
The Miners replied. With two outs on the board Townsend made it to first on a single. Carrera then belted her second double of the game, scoring Townsend. Troupe followed with a double, driving Carrera home to give UTEP a 4-3 advantage heading into the top of the fourth.
Arizona scored two runs in the top of the fourth frame to go ahead 5-4. Despite the runs, the defensive effort of the Miners kept the Wildcats from scoring more including a play at home that came from Ellis in right to Carrera at home, keeping Koria from adding a run on the board.
The Miners would get off two more hits and leave two runners stranded, but Arizona would get off three more in the top of the seventh to pull away with an 8-4 lead.
Lodes, who came into to pinch hit for Becky Smith, would give the Miners their fifth run after blasting a long ball to centerfield, but the comeback would be short-lived, as Arizona's Sarah Akamine retired UTEP's next three batters for the win.
"It was close," Rodriguez said. "A few pitches here and there."
Arizona's Akamine who received the win, fanned just three batters while giving up five runs on 10 hits. Kelly Curran was the losing pitcher.
"I am proud of them. We are playing against the best. If we continue to play like this, we are in for a long season."
