April 25, 2015
Final Stats
UTEP 1,Marshall 3
UTEP 10, Marshall 5
2015 Season Stats
EL PASO, Texas - After falling 3-1 in the first game, UTEP used a big sixth inning to defeat Marshall, 10-5, in the second game on Saturday afternoon at the Helen of Troy Softball Complex.
"We told the girls in between games to stay positive with yourselves and make sure you control your at bats and make the adjustments a little bit quicker," second-year UTEP head coach Tobin Echo-Hawk said. "And they did a fantastic job doing that. Hitters 1-9 did a great job making adjustments, even our pinch hitters came in a did some great things."
With the game-two victory, UTEP (9-11 Conference USA) finds itself half of game up on Charlotte (8-11 C-USA) and North Texas (8-11) in the seven spot in the standings. WKU won a pair of games over Charlotte on Friday and Saturday, while North Texas lost two at LA Tech earlier today. The top eight teams will advance to the 2015 C-USA Tournament in Miami, Fla. (FIU) on May 7-9.
UTEP 10, Marshall 5
With the score tied 5-5, the Miners scored five runs in the sixth inning, while receiving a strong performance from Danielle Pearson (5-8) in circle to help quiet the Thundering Herd (32-12, 11-7 C-USA) during the crucial game two victory.
Marshall gained initial momentum, scoring three first-inning runs to take an early lead. Elicia D'Orazio and Shaelynn Braxton each tallied an RBI, while Kaelynn Greene scored a run on a wild pitch.
"I told the girls to keep fighting," Echo-Hawk said. "That's been our thing all week - we got to fight, hold on for dear life and never give up no matter what the score is. They did a great job of answering, because it would be easy after a loss to be down 3-0 in that first inning and give up. And they didn't do that."
And UTEP would answer with three runs of its own.
In the second frame, Kaitlin Ryder reached on a fielder's choice, setting up a big at bat for Linda Garcia. The freshman connected on her third home run of the season, a two-run jack over center field. Another freshman, Courtney Clayton, then tied the contest, knocking in Jade Rodriguez on a double to right.
In the fourth, Emileigh Cooper gave her squad the lead back with a solo home run to left field. Marshall would take a two-run lead (5-3) when Greene drove in Morgan Zerkle on a single to center.
Again, the Miners would answer.
Ryder tied the contest in the fifth, as the freshman recorded a double to right, scoring Hope Moreno and Kiki Pepi. Prior Ryder's at bat, Pepi reached on a walk, while Moreno reached on a single to right. An error by the right fielder advanced to two runners.
Before the Miners had their breakout inning, Tahla Wade made a great catch in center in the top half of the sixth. Greene, who posses much speed, led off with a bunt single. D'Orazio followed with a blast to deep center, but Wade used her own speed to make an over-the-head catch for the first out. The second out was made when Greene tried to steal her 28th base of the season, but Garcia threw her out. The top half ended on a fly out to right.
Despite Marshall stealing four bases on the day to add to its national-leading total, Garcia threw out three base runners on the day.
Clayton led off the sixth with a single to center, while a pitch hit Ashley Eldridge. With one out and two runners on, Pepi doubled to right center, scoring the two runners for the go-ahead lead (7-5). Pinch runner Morgan Rasmason then crossed the dish on a Moreno single to center, giving UTEP an 8-5 advantage. The Miners tacked on two more runs on a Ryder triple to right center that scored Moreno, while Breanna Medina singled in Ryder.
Ryder's triple was the first of her career, while it was UTEP's 12th this season. It now ties the 2005 Miners for the most during a single season in school history.
Pearson, who threw 3.2 innings with three strikeouts, earned her fifth win of the season. She tallied two Ks and forced a ground out in the seventh to end the contest. It was Pearson's first win since March 11.
"D.P. (Danielle Pearson) did a great job," Echo-Hawk said. "That's the D.P. we know. She's done a great job the last couple weeks of really focusing and trying to work on things. It paid off today."
The Miners tallied 13 hits, while only striking out three times in 31 at bats.
Moreno tied her season high in hits on a 3-for-3 performance. Clayton went 2-for-4, while Ryder tallied three RBI on a 2-for-3 evening.
Jordan Dixon (30-12) was the losing pitcher after earning the game one victory. Dixon had six earned runs in 4.1 innings of work.
UTEP 1, Marshall 3
The Miners only tallied six hits, while eight runners were left on base (seven of them in scoring position). Eldridge and Pepi each recoded a pair of hits, while Moreno and Rodriguez each added a knock.
"We didn't do a very good job of putting the ball in play when we needed to when we had runners in scoring position," Echo-Hawk said.
Marshall took a 3-0 lead before UTEP scored a run in the sixth inning on a Moreno RBI single that scored Pepi.
Dixon allowed a runner on an error with one out in the seventh, but rebounded by snagging a line drive for the second out, and forcing a fly out to end the game. Dixon tallied nine strikeouts.
Though Kaitlin Fifield (9-15) suffered the loss, she pitched a solid outing. The native of El Paso hurled 7.0 innings with two earned runs and four Ks.
"Kaitlin did a great job, they just had timely hits," Echo-Hawk said.
Up Next
The series finale will start at noon on Sunday. Seniors Eldridge, Wade and McKenzey Finley will be honored prior to the Senior Day contest.
"It's a big game tomorrow," Echo-Hawk said. "And that what I keep telling the team, every single game is the most important that we will play all season. It's the difference between going to the conference tournament or going home."
