EL PASO - The UTEP softball team will host Conference USA newcomer, Sam Houston, this weekend for a three-game series at Helen of Troy Field. The teams will play at 6 p.m. on Friday, 3 p.m. on Saturday, and at noon on Sunday. All games can be seen live on ESPN+. 

  Tickets  
Tickets are $8 and can be purchased through the Eisenberg Family Ticket Office by calling (915) 747-UTEP, emailing tickets@utep.edu, visiting www.UTEPMiners.com/Tickets or in person at 201 Glory Road (Brumbelow Building, UTEP Campus), Monday-Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.     

  Schedule  
April 12 at 6pm | Live Stats | ESPN+    
April 13 at 3pm | Live Stats | ESPN+    
April 14 at 12pm | Live Stats | ESPN+    
^All Times Mountain   

  Leading Off  

• UTEP leads Conference USA in doubles per game (1.88), double plays per game (0.56), doubles (60), and scoring (5.09). The Miners' doubles per game ranks eighth in the nation. 
• UTEP has batted .295 through 32 games paced by five players who are batting at or above the mark, two who have 110-plus plate appearances (Ajia Richard and Lexi Morales).  
• Richard leads the way with a slash line of .422/.470/.784 on 43 hits that include 14 doubles, one triple, and seven home runs. Richard leads the conference in doubles per game, doubles, batting average, and sacrifice flies. Her doubles per game (.44) and doubles (14) rank sixth and 14th in the nation, respectively.     
• Five Miners have double-digit RBIs this season as Richard leads the way with 32.     
• Eleven players, including Richard who accounts for seven, contributed to UTEP's total of 25 home runs. Richard, Kenna Collett, and Anna Sample have each hit one out of the park for a grand slam this season.     
• The UTEP pitching staff holds a 3.80 ERA. Faith Aragon and Taja Felder have nine wins each. Aragon has a team-high 59 strikeouts in 89.1 innings pitched.  
• Zaylie Calderon is the Division I leader with seven saves, including three in league play which paces CUSA pitchers. Her seven saves are tied for second in the league's single-season history and her 11 career saves rank seventh in conference history. Calderon has struck out 23 batters in 28.2 innings across 20 appearances for the Miners this season. 

  In The CUSA Spotlight  
Week 5 POW – Ajia Richard    
Richard hit 4-10 and posted a slash line of .400/.455/.900 in a series victory over MTSU. She contributed significantly with two runs, two doubles, a home run, and 5 RBI. Richard opened the weekend with a solo shot to get the scoring underway on Friday and followed it up with a two-run single in her first at-bat Saturday that gave the Miners (16-6, 2-1 CUSA) the lead for good. She capped the weekend with a pair of RBI doubles in the series finale.   

Week 2 POW – Bri Garcia    
Garcia had an impressive week for the Miners (10-2), who achieved a commendable 6-1 record. She started all seven games at second base and went 8-17 at the plate, resulting in a slash line of .471/.550/.882. Garcia drove in 10 runs, crossed the plate seven times and delivered key hits, including a pair of doubles and home runs. Her defensive performance was equally outstanding with nine putouts and 13 assists for a flawless 1.000 fielding percentage. Garcia's exceptional week earned her a spot on the UTEP Invitational All-Tournament Team.    

  By The Numbers  
Nationally, UTEP ranks in the top-100 in eight categories which rank in the top-three in the league.         
8. Doubles per Game (1.88)* 
11. Double Plays per Game (0.56)* 
22. Doubles (60)* 
57. Slugging Percentage (0.468) 
65. On Base Percentage (0.379) 
74. Scoring (5.09)* 
74. Batting Average (0.295) 
88. WL Percentage (0.594) 
*Conference USA Leader     

UTEP has five players nationally ranked in the top-100.         

*Conference USA Leader         

  The Opponent  
Sam Houston 

• SHSU brings a 15-23 (4-11 CUSA) record.  
• The Bearkats are hitting .250 and have a total ERA of 4.79.      
• Sam Houston returns approximately 90 percent of its offensive production from last season and eight student-athletes who started at least 40 games for the Bearkats a year ago. They return their top three finishers in batting average, including Ellie Grill and Julia Herzinger who are again among the top-three hitters and have each raised their average 28 points from the end of last season. 
• Sam Houston had two players receive league honors this week. Elia Hebel took the Player of the Week and Amy Abke as the Freshman of the Week. The first accolades the Bearkats have received this season and the first in CUSA. 
• UTEP leads the all-time series, 1-0, with the lone win in 2007 in El Paso when the Miners shutout the Bearkats, 4-0.

Give a gift to UTEP Softball by donating to the Diamond Club.                     

For complete coverage of UTEP Softball, be sure to follow the Miners on social media at @utepsoftball (Instagram/Twitter) or visit the official home of UTEP Athletics at UTEPMiners.com.