March 11, 2015
Final Stats
UTEP 5, Texas Tech 3
UTEP 9, Texas Tech 7
EL PASO, Texas - The UTEP softball team swept Texas Tech during a two-game series, winning game one 5-3, and game two 9-7 on Wednesday afternoon at the Helen of Troy Softball Complex.
The victories were the first over Texas Tech since April 23, 2009, when UTEP swept them in a two-game set in El Paso.
"I'm so happy and so proud of the girls," second-year head coach Tobin Echo-Hawk said. "And it's not just about these two wins, it's the resiliency that they've shown after how we started and how we're playing now. It shows the character of who they are as kids, as players and the faith they have with each other."
The Miners (8-19) are on five-game winning streak and are 6-3 in their last nine contests. The Orange and Blue is also 5-0 in the Sun City in 2015.
"It's just nice to be at home," Echo-Hawk said. "It's nice to be in a familiar place and wake up in your own bed. There's nothing better than playing in front of your friends and family, and have that crowd support."
UTEP 5, Texas 3
Danielle Pearson (4-5) pitched a complete game, allowing only two earned runs, striking out three and only walking one. And Kiki Pepi put the Miners ahead for good during the fourth inning.
"She pitched awesome," Echo-Hawk said. "Before the game we had a little talk and I said, `You need to remember that you're a great pitcher and you need not to overthrow it, just trust yourself', and she did exactly that."
Pearson also helped her own cause when she had a pinch-hit single to right center during the sixth inning that scored Courtney Clayton, to put the Miners up 5-3. Pearson then closed the game out as the junior retired the side on three consecutive ground balls to earn her fourth victory. Pearson has won two consecutive games.
"She really made sure she was spinning the ball, didn't try to overthrow, and didn't try to do too much. Sometimes when you stay within yourself, you get good results," Echo-Hawk added.
The Miners struck first during the first frame when Tahla Wade and Jade Rodriguez crossed home plate on an error. With the Miners up 2-1 in the second, Wade connected on a triple to deep center, plating Hope Moreno, who singled down the left line with two outs.
Texas Tech would tie the contest, as Kristi Belshe doubled to left center, scoring Sarah Weber in the third inning. The tying run was made in the fourth when Susan Welborn singled to left, plating Ashley Fultz.
But Pepi's solo home run in the fourth gave the Miners a 4-3 lead.
Wade finished 2-for-4 with an RBI and run scored.
UTEP 9, Texas Tech 7
With the game knotted up 4-4, the Miners scored five runs in the sixth with two outs.
Kaitlin Ryder led off with a single to left, followed by Pearson singling up the middle. Wade got on first on a fielder's choice as Ryder was thrown out at third. Rodriguez used a short single to the second baseman to load the bases, while Kawehiokalani Netane flied out for out no. 2.
But Ashley Eldridge used clutch hitting to clear the bases. The senior outfielder tripled to left center, putting the Miners ahead, 7-4. The next big hit came when Pepi hit her second long ball of the afternoon, a two-run shot down the left line.
Kaitlin Fifield (4-6) came in relief for starting hurler Taylor Grohmannafter the third inning. Fifield won the game, earning her fourth win of the season and third in a row. But the Red Raiders wouldn't go quietly, as they loaded the bases and tacked on three runs to get within two, but a Lea Hopson fly out ended the game.
The contest was back and forth as the Miners scored the two first runs in the first and third frames. The Red Raider took a one-run lead as pinch hitter Brittany Lee hit a two-out, three-run shot in the fourth.
Wade and Netane each recorded an RBI to give their squad a 4-3 lead heading to the sixth where Hopson hit a two-out, solo jack to tie the game.
"What I told the team coming in after that sixth inning after they tied it up with a home run, it's really easy to get down," Echo-Hawk said. "But they got on base and moved them over, got a couple timely hits and that's all we really needed. I think that goes back to the resiliency and staying confident in the box."
Wade, Netane, Eldridge and Pearson all connected on a pair of hits, while Rodrigeuz, Pepi, Clayton and Ryder each added a knock. Wade also had another stolen base, giving her 12 on the season. It's a career high for the senior outfielder, who entered the 2015 season with 12 in her career.
Up Next
UTEP will travel to Birmingham, Ala. to take on No. 25 UAB in a three-game series March 14-15. Saturday's doubleheader will start at noon MT, while Sunday's contest to start at noon. Both squads are 3-0 to begin Conference USA play.
"It's nice to carry this win streak into this weekend," Echo-Hawk said. "It's a big weekend for us and we're playing a top 25 team. We couldn't ask for a better time to be at this point playing them."
