EL PASO, Texas – UTEP Softball heads to Huntsville, Texas this weekend, April 11-13, for a Conference USA series against Sam Houston at the Bearkat Softball Complex.
Schedule (MT)
| DATE |
TIME |
MATCHUP |
| FRI. April 11 |
5 p.m. |
UTEP at Sam Hosuton |
| SAT. April 12 |
2 p.m. |
UTEP at Sam Houston |
| SUN. April 13 |
11:30 a.m. |
UTEP at Sam Houston |
| While there will be no live stream for the games, live stats will be available for fans to follow the action. |
The Leadoff Report
Miners at the Plate
The Miners (15-21, 5-10 CUSA) come into the matchup with momentum, having just completed a statement three-game sweep over rival New Mexico State. UTEP was in control from the first pitch of each contest, never trailing at any point in the series. The team will now shift its focus to a familiar foe, as the Sun Devils earned an 11-4 victory over the Miners in Tempe earlier this season on March 1.
UTEP enters the doubleheader ranked first in Conference USA in both double plays (22) and double plays per game (0.65), good for eighth and fifth nationally, respectively.
The Miners are second in CUSA in doubles per game (1.68), triples (10), and triples per game (0.29), while sitting third in team batting average (.314), fielding percentage (.969), home runs per game (1.03), and slugging percentage (.517).
Additional top-100 national rankings include 52nd in total doubles (57), 69th in home runs (35), 72nd in on-base percentage (.390), and 84th in shutouts (5).
Ajia Richard has been one of the most dangerous hitters in the country this season. She ranks fourth nationally in batting average (.510), seventh in on-base percentage (.600), 26th in slugging percentage (.878), 53rd in hits (50), and 74th in total bases (86).
Other key individual contributors for UTEP include Madi Mendoza, who ranks fourth in CUSA in assists (76) and second in assists per game (2.24), and Ashlynn Griffith, who sits second in the league in triples per game (0.09).
In the Circle
The UTEP pitching staff carries a 4.81 ERA with 92 strikeouts and has held opponents to a .291 batting average across 36 games.
Serenity Jacoway has emerged as the team's top arm, posting a 3.69 ERA and 1.44 WHIP with a 3-4 record. She has made 18 appearances with seven starts and has pitched 62.2 innings, tallying 25 strikeouts. Jacoway earned two complete-game wins in the sweep over NMSU and owns four complete games and one save on the season. Audrey Gallegos has been another consistent option in the rotation, holding a 3-5 record and carrying a 4.98 ERA through 57.2 innings pitched. She's made 11 starts in 16 appearances and has thrown four complete games with 23 strikeouts.
Taja Felder also earned a complete-game win over the Aggies and holds a 6-8 record with 13 starts in 18 appearances. She's logged 52.1 innings and 19 strikeouts with a 5.22 ERA. Anisa Reynolds has contributed both in relief and as a starter, going 2-4 with five starts in 17 appearances. She has a 5.31 ERA, 24 strikeouts, and 55.1 innings pitched on the year.
Conference USA Weekly Honors
Senior infielder Ajia Richard was named Conference USA Player of the Week on April 7 for the second time this season. She batted .818 (9-for-11) with three doubles, one RBI, and 11 total bases in the sweep over NMSU, while playing error-free defense at third base. She reached base at an .833 clip and recorded back-to-back 4-for-4 performances over the weekend.
Richard also earned CUSA Player of the Week honors on February 17 after hitting .857 with six home runs and 10 RBIs in five games at the Dr. Diana Natalicio Memorial Tournament. She tied a league record with three home runs in a single game against Manhattan and reached base at an .882 clip during the event.
Freshman outfielder Marissa Burchard picked up CUSA Freshman of the Week accolades on March 24 following a breakout series against WKU. She hit .545 (6-for-11) with a game-tying RBI triple and a pair of multi-hit efforts as the Miners secured their first-ever series win over the Hilltoppers. Burchard is batting .406 in league play with a team-best 13 hits in nine conference contests.
National Recognition
Richard has also earned national attention for her consistency at third base. D1Softball ranked her the No. 10 third baseman in the country after weeks four, six, and eight of the season. Softball America placed her at No. 7 heading into March and No. 15 entering April.
Scouting Sam Houston
- Sam Houston enters the series 20-21 overall and 8-7 in Conference USA play. The Bearkats are coming off a 2-1 series win over FIU.
- Offensively, Sam Houston is batting .254 as a team with 262 hits, including 82 extra-base knocks and 32 home runs. The pitching staff holds a 3.31 ERA, with 194 strikeouts across 41 games, and a .263 opponent batting average.
- Jenny Robison leads the Bearkats offensively with a .365 batting average, .441 on-base percentage, and .573 slugging percentage. She's recorded 35 hits, 18 RBIs, and just nine strikeouts over 26 games. In the circle, Abigail Young has been the ace, boasting a 1.68 ERA in 66.2 innings pitched with five complete games in 11 starts.
- UTEP holds a 3-1 advantage in the all-time series, with the first meeting dating back to 2007. Last season, the Miners took the CUSA series 2-1 at home, winning the first two games 3-0 and 10-8 before falling in the finale 9-0 in six innings.
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For complete coverage of UTEP Softball, be sure to follow the Miners on social media at @utepsoftball (Instagram/X) or visit the official home of UTEP Athletics at UTEPMiners.com.
