EL PASO, Texas – UTEP softball (8-19, 3-8 C-USA) dropped games two and three of its four-game set versus North Texas (23-9, 5-2 C-USA) by scores of 4-1 and 11-2, respectively, Saturday evening at Helen of Troy Field.
The Mean Green collected 25 hits while the Miners had just eight over the two contests.
Game 1: North Texas 4, UTEP 1
North Texas struck first in the second inning following a single by infielder Kailey Gamble which drove in outfielder Tarah Hilton who led off the inning with a double. Mean Green catcher Ashlyn Walker drove in Gamble two strikeouts later to extend the lead, 2-0.
Sophomore utility
Zaylie Calderon tied her season-high in strikeouts (4) the next inning after she sent infielder Taylan Evans down on strikes. Calderon tossed 4.2 innings in her start in game one.
North Texas outfielder Tuesday DerMargosian led off the fifth inning with a solo homer to left-center field. The Miners answered in the bottom half of the inning with back-to-back singles by freshman utility
Lexi Morales and senior utility
Ilena Santos. Freshman outfielder
Ashlynn Allen knocked in Morales before pinch runner
Aaliyah Rebolledo was tagged out between third and second base on a double play.
UTEP only had one baserunner in the final two innings: Morales' second single of the day for her third multi-hit game of her career.
Game 2: North Texas 11, UTEP 2
The Mean Green swept the double-header and claimed the series following its 14-hit, 11-run performance in the night cap.
North Texas scored a run in each of the first three innings – two runs, two runs and one run – before it opened the flood gates with a six-run, six-hit fourth inning.
Redshirt sophomore
Idalis Mendez hit the Miners' only extra base hit with a double in the bottom of the fourth inning. Three batters later, Allen once again drove in UTEP's only runs with a single to center field that knocked in sophomore catcher
Karina Somoza and Mendez.
NEXT UP FOR THE MINERS
UTEP softball will attempt to salvage the series finale versus North Texas tomorrow at 11 a.m. MT at Helen of Troy Field. The Miners will celebrate the last of its three seniors – infielder
Ariana Valles – tomorrow.
For complete coverage of UTEP softball, be sure to follow the Miners on social media at @UTEPSoftball (Twitter), @utepsoftball (Instagram) and on Facebook or visit the official home of UTEP Athletics at UTEPMiners.com.
