EL PASO, Texas – After a month-long road stretch, UTEP Softball (10-12, 0-3 Conference USA) is set to return to Helen of Troy Field for a matchup against Louisiana Tech (13-11, 1-2 CUSA) on March 15-16.  

Due to a blowing dust advisory and poor air quality forecasted for Friday, the series schedule was adjusted. The Miners and Bulldogs will now play a single game on Saturday, March 15, followed by a doubleheader on Sunday, March 16, as conditions are expected to improve. 

Series Schedule (MT)

The Leadoff Report 

Miners at the Plate 

UTEP enters the weekend with a .319 team batting average, ranking second in Conference USA and 47th nationally.  

The Miners have been an extra-base hit machine, ranking fifth in the NCAA in doubles per game (2.00) and seventh in double plays turned (16).  

Defensively, UTEP ranks fifth nationally in double plays per game (0.73) and holds a .965 fielding percentage. 

Leading the offensive charge is Ajia Richard, who has been a force in the lineup all season. Richard leads CUSA with a .523 batting average (8th nationally), 8 home runs (2nd in CUSA), and an on-base percentage of .587 (1st in CUSA, 16th nationally). She was named Conference USA Player of the Week (Feb. 17) after a dominant performance at the Dr. Diana Natalicio Memorial Tournament, where she hit .857 (12-for-14) with six homers and 10 RBIs. Her standout game came against Manhattan, where she tied a league record with three home runs in a single game. Richard was also recognized nationally, ranking #10 in D1 Softball's Third Base Player Power Rankings (March 6). 

Supporting Richard is Kenna Carranza (.383 avg, .745 slugging percentage) and Halle Hogan (.339 avg, 3 HR, 8 RBIs), while Amaya Lee has provided timely power with four home runs and 14 RBIs. 

Inside the Circle 

The Miners have relied on a committee approach in the circle, led by Serenity Jacoway (3.33 ERA, 21.0 IP, 11 Ks) and Taja Felder (3.74 ERA, 5-6 record, 33.2 IP). Audrey Gallegos has been UTEP's workhorse, leading the staff with 40.1 innings pitched, three complete games, and a 4.17 ERA.  

Scouting Louisiana Tech 

LA Tech enters the series with a .305 team batting average and a 4.14 team ERA.  

Claire Raley leads the offensive attack, hitting .403 with 22 RBIs and 11 extra-base hits.  

In the circle, Allie Floyd has been their ace, holding a 3.21 ERA, 9-4 record, and 89 strikeouts in 85.0 innings pitched. 

Louisiana Tech leads the all-time series 25-17, but UTEP won the regular season series 2-1 last year, taking the first two games in Ruston, La. The teams met again in the CUSA Tournament, where LA Tech won 2-0. 

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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.