EL PASO - UTEP softball (2-2) is set to host the third annual Dr. Diana Natalicio Memorial Tournament at Helen of Troy Field from Feb. 14-16. The Miners will welcome Montana, Manhattan, and Northern Colorado for the three-day event, which honors the legacy of Dr. Diana Natalicio, UTEP's esteemed former president who passed away in 2021.

TICKET INFORMATION
Season tickets for UTEP Softball are available for $60, while single-game tickets are priced at $8. Doubleheader tickets can be purchased for $12. Fans can secure their seats 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) during business hours Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.  
 
TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE

THE LEADOFF REPORT   

• UTEP leads Conference USA in batting average (0.394), on base percentage (0.480), and triples per game (0.50).  
• UTEP holds a team batting average of .394, with five players hitting at or above that mark. Ashlynn Griffith leads the team with a .667 batting average, while Ajia Richard has the highest average among players with 10 or more plate appearances, hitting .615 across 13 at-bats. 
• Amaya Lee (.375/.500/1.500) leads in slugging with three home runs. 
• Five players posted at least one homerun. UTEP shredded six home runs through its first five games with Collett accounting for two.  
• In the circle, the Miners hold a 6.71 team ERA through their first four games. Audrey Gallegos and Taja Felder have each recorded a win, while Anisa Reynolds has been solid, holding opposing hitters to a .297 batting average in 9.2 innings. Gallegos has also been a workhorse for the staff, throwing UTEP's only complete game so far this season. Anisa Reynolds has provided additional value out of the bullpen, securing the team's lone save.  

 BY THE NUMBERS      
Nationally, UTEP ranks in the top-50 in 13 categories while leading CUSA in four. 
5. Doubles per Game (2.50) 
6. Slugging Percentage (0.673) 
11. Batting Average (0.394)* 
14. On Base Percentage (0.480)* 
21. Doubles (10) 
23. Triples per Game (0.50)* 
24. Double Plays per Game (0.75)  
27. Double Plays (3) 
27. Triples (2)* 
28. Home Runs per Game (1.25) 
31. Scoring (7.75) 
34. RBIs per Game (6.75) 
41. Home Runs (5) 
*CUSA leader

UTEP has 11 players nationally ranked in the top-100.  

*Conference USA Leader  

 THE OPPONENTS
Montana 

• Montana has opened the 2025 season with a 1-4 record. The Grizzlies secured their lone win against Colgate but have since suffered losses to Northern Illinois, Wichita State, and Grand Canyon (twice in a doubleheader). 
• All-Big Sky selection Presley Jantzi is off to a strong start, leading the team with a .471 batting average through 17 at-bats. 
• In the circle, Cameryn Ortega leads the pitching staff with a 4.34 ERA and has thrown one complete game. Siona Halwani earned the team's only win against Colgate and has made three starts, logging 12.2 innings pitched. 
• Montana is under the direction of first-year head coach Stef Ewing. 
• UTEP leads the all-time series 2-1. The Miners dropped the first-ever meeting in 2021, falling 5-2, but responded the next day with a 14-13 victory. The most recent matchup came in 2024 in El Paso, where UTEP shut out Montana 6-0.

Manhattan 

• Manhattan has yet to begin its 2025 season, as its scheduled games against Delaware State were canceled. 
• The Jaspers finished the 2024 season with a 13-37 record. 
• Offensively, Lindsey Hoag was the team's top performer last season, leading Manhattan with a .290 batting average and an .855 OPS across 138 at-bats. 
• In the circle, Ava Metzger returns after posting a 5.08 ERA with a 3-11 record and one save during the 2024 campaign. 
• Head Coach Bridget Hurlman is entering her second season leading the Manhattan program. 
• This matchup will mark the first-ever meeting between UTEP and Manhattan.

Northern Colorado 

• Northern Colorado started the season 1-3 at the Puerto Vallarta College Challenge. Their lone win came against Louisiana Tech, while they suffered losses to No. 9 Florida State and No. 4 Oklahoma State. 
• The Bears' offense features two players with an OPS of 1.000 or higher. 
• In the circle, UNC has a team ERA of 4.36, allowing 16 earned runs over 25.2 innings. The pitching staff has recorded eight strikeouts through the early portion of the season. 
• Head Coach Dedeann Pendleton-Helm is in her third season at the helm of the program. She has led the Bears to a 54-52 (.509) record during her tenure. 
• UTEP leads the all-time series 18-6, but UNC won both matchups in 2023, with both games going into extra innings. 
• Despite last season's setbacks, UTEP has won six of the last 10 meetings between the two programs. 

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.