Feb. 8, 2015
Final Stats
2015 Softball Stats 
Portland State 7, UTEP 5
UCSB 10, UTEP 9 (8)
TEMPE, Ariz. - The UTEP softball team showed some fight, but fell short during both of its games on Saturday. Earlier in the day Portland State defeated UTEP, 7-5, while later in the evening, UC Santa Barbara defeated the Miners (0-4), 10-9, in an eight-inning three-hour affair at the Kajikawa Classic.
The Miners played the Vikings in 80-degree plus weather during the day as the game started at noon (mountain time) and then took the field against the Gauchos, but at 10:05 p.m. in 60-degree, breezy and chilly conditions.
UTEP 5, Portland State 7
Courtney Clayton got the Miners on the board first in the bottom of the first when the freshman plated senior Tahla Wade on a single up the middle. The lead was short lived as the Vikings put up four runs during the top of the third. Rayleen Pallan commenced the scoring when Brit Hendrickson singled her across the dish. A fielding miscue by UTEP allowed another run, while Lauren Bliss notched a two-run double down the left field line.
In the top third, junior Kawehiokalani Netane tripled to right center, scoring sophomore transfer Kiki Pepi as the Miners got within two runs (4-2).
After Alex Flores cranked a three-run home run in the fifth, giving her squad a 7-2 lead. The Miners rallied, but fell short in the bottom half. Kaitlin Ryder tallied her first career RBI when the freshman singled up the middle, plating Clayton and senior Ashley Eldridge. Sophomore transfer Erica Chasco earned her first RBI in a UTEP uniform on a single to right center, scoring freshman Taylor Sargent. But the rally wasn't enough as Meagan Hendrix, who earned the save, forced the Miners to go three up and three down to end the game.
The Miners connected on 13 hits, as Wade, Pepi, Clayton, Netane, Ryder and Chasco each recorded two hits.
UTEP 9, UC Santa Barbara 10 (8 innings)
Again, the Miners took the early advantage (2-0), this time in the top of the first inning. For the second game in a row Clayton put her team on the board first, this time with a sac-fly to right field, bringing Wade across the dish. Ryder looked as if she would ground out to end the inning, but an error by the third baseman opened the way for Netane to cross home plate.
But UCSB tied the game in the bottom half, while the two squads exchanged runs in the second inning, making the score 4-4 after three innings.
In the bottom fourth, Stacy Cavazos scored on a fielding miscue, giving her team the slight lead (5-4). UTEP took the lead back in the top fifth when Wade hit a ball just off the glove of the shortstop that brought redshirt freshman Summer Palipti and Chasco home, making the score 6-5. UCSB tied the game during the bottom of the fifth on a Jackie Hinojosa RBI single down the right field line.
The scoring would continue.
With the score knotted up at 6-6 in the top sixth, Sargent connected on her first collegiate home run. It was a moon shot high over the center field fence, giving her squad the lead (8-6) and momentum. But sketchy pitching allowed three Gaucho runs, all on walks. Kaitlin Fifield, who recorded four strikeouts, forced a ground out. But another fielding miscue let a runner on and the Gauchos were able to load the bases that allowed the three runs (9-8).
With two outs in the top seventh, Pepi doubled to deep center field, allowing Eldridge to tie the contest. Both the double and RBI were Pepi's first in a UTEP uniform.
UCSB threatened in the bottom half, but the Miners were able to force extra innings. In the top eighth, Netane was placed at second base - per international rules of placing a girl at second base in extras. She advanced to third on a Sargent sac-bunt that turned into an error, giving the Miners runners at the corners. But they couldn't capitalize on the opportunity.
MeShalon Moore advanced to third as her sister DeJannee Moore recorded a bunt single. Sami Stark followed with a single to the short stop, scoring MeShalon Moore and the victory.
UTEP registered 12 hits on the night (and early morning) led by Eldridge's 3-for-3 performance. Wade, Pepi and Sargent each had two hits. Sophomore Yvette Ortega, Chasco and Netane added a hit each.
The Miners will conclude the weekend classic when they take on Stanford at 1:30 p.m. This will mark the first contest against the Cardinal in program history. The Miners are 0-3 all-time versus Portland State, but will get another shot at the Vikings in the Wilson/DeMarini Classic next week in Las Vegas, Nev. This was also the first ever meeting with UCSB.
