EL PASO, Texas – UTEP softball's Kaylin Jackson blasted a bases-clearing double that lifted the Miners (9-11) to a 10-8 victory over Incarnate Word (5-14) as the program concluded its three-game series at the Helen of Troy Softball Complex on a windy Sunday afternoon.
The Miners' offense, after being down on two occasions, came up clutch, as all 10 runs were scored with two outs. Jackson finished with a career-high three RBI, Pate Cathey's three knocks tied a career best, and hurler Aalijah Alarcon won her fifth game of the season.
"I am very proud of their effort and readiness," head coach TJ Hubbard said. "They showed a lot of fight in all three games. We are looking forward to conference play, and I think this puts us in a good position to start the conference schedule next weekend."
The Cardinals took a quick 3-0 lead after three innings. UIW landed on the board early in the first frame off a single to right field and a two-run home run in the third.
The Miners came out swinging in the bottom of the fourth putting up six runs on five hits. After two fly outs by Ajia Richard and Cheyenne Stark to leadoff, Kaylin Jackson landed herself in the diamond after she doubled to left field. Toni Gonzalez swooped in with a two-run long ball scoring Jordyn Lopez who pinch ran for Jackson and shrinking the deficit 3-2. The Miners' rally forced UIW into a pitching change and Madison Floyd responded by walking her first two batters, Karina Somoza and Savannah Favre. A Lexi Morales RBI single scored Autumn Scott for the tying run. Coach Hubbard's decision to bring in Anna Sample to pinch hit for Ashlynn Allen proved successful as she recorded her first RBI of the season plating Favre and Morales off her double to left center. Allen came back in to pinch run for Sample and the Miners once again forced a UIW pitching change. The Miners were unbothered by the change as Pate Cathey doubled to left center scoring Allen to double the lead, 6-3.
UIW answered with five runs in the fifth after an RBI walk and a grand slam to take back the lead, 8-6.
UTEP found itself once again with two outs on the board at the bottom of the sixth. The Miners had the bases loaded after Allen walked, Cathey singled to left field and Richard reached on a fielder's choice. Stark received a walk that pushed Allen home to close in on the Cardinals, 8-7. Jackson shredded the clutch, go-ahead three-run double to lift the Miners back in front, 10-8.
Alarcon (5-5), who threw 4.1 solid frames and struck out a pair in relief, did not allow a single base runner as the Cardinals went three-up, three-down to end the contest.
Miner Quick Hits
Pitching Highlights
Aalijah Alarcon (5-5): 4.1 IP, 4 H, 5 R, BB, 2 K
Annika Litterio: 2.2 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 3 BB, 4 K
ON DECK
The Miners will be back in action as they travel to Tucson, Ariz. to take on no. 9 Arizona (15-4) in a doubleheader on Tuesday (Mar. 8) at 4/6 p.m. MT.
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