EL PASO – The UTEP softball team (10-9) kicks off its Conference USA schedule this weekend, Mar. 7-9, traveling to Jacksonville, Alabama, for a three-game series against Jax State at Janna McGinnis Field.
Series Schedule (MT)
The Leadoff Report
UTEP enters conference play as one of the most potent offenses in CUSA. The Miners lead the conference in batting average (.337), slugging percentage (.575), and on-base percentage (.404) while ranking top 50 nationally in all three categories. UTEP's offense has been powered by the red-hot bat of Ajia Richard, who leads CUSA and ranks 9th nationally with a .525 batting average. Richard has also launched seven home runs this season, ranking second in the conference.
Supporting Richard, Kenna Carranza (.385), Halle Hogan (.373), and Amaya Lee (.364) have provided consistency throughout the lineup, with Lee also ranking in the top five in CUSA for slugging percentage (.848). UTEP's power-hitting ability is evident, as the Miners rank second in CUSA and 41st nationally with 21 home runs.
The Miners have also been stellar in the field, ranking first in CUSA and fourth nationally in double plays per game (0.79). Iliana Munoz (99.0%) and Richard (98.4%) anchor a defense that matches its opponents in fielding percentage (.965). The pitching staff, led by Taja Felder (3.03 ERA, 5-5 record) and Audrey Gallegos (3.71 ERA, 3-1 record), looks to build on their early success.
Richard's dominance at the plate has earned her national recognition, as she was ranked #10 in D1 Softball's Third Base Player Power Rankings after four weeks of play (Mar. 6). Richard earned Conference USA Player of the Week honors (Feb. 17) after a dominant performance at the Dr. Diana Natalicio Memorial Tournament. She hit .857 (12-for-14) with six home runs and 10 RBIs, including a record-tying three-homer game against Manhattan.
Scouting Jax State
Jax State (15-7) enters the weekend with a balanced attack, boasting a team slash line of .290/.393/.441 and an impressive 1.57 ERA. The Gamecocks' pitching staff, led by Kat Carter (1.49 ERA, 5-2, 45 Ks), has limited opponents to a .203 batting average. Offensively, Emma Elrod leads the team with a .370 batting average, 16 RBIs, and a .691 slugging percentage while also going 9-for-9 in stolen bases.
Historically, Jax State leads the all-time series 3-2. The teams met four times in 2024, with Jacksonville State winning the regular-season series 2-1, but UTEP claiming a crucial victory over the Gamecocks in the CUSA Tournament.
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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.
