EL PASO, Texas – UTEP Softball will welcome New Mexico for a single midweek matchup on Tuesday, April 15, at Helen of Troy Softball Complex. First pitch is scheduled for 2 p.m. MT.
The game was originally slated for March 18, but forecasted severe weather in the El Paso area forced a postponement to the later April date.
Schedule (MT)
| DATE |
TIME |
MATCHUP |
| TUES. April 15 |
2 pm |
UTEP vs. New Mexico |
| The game will be streamed on ESPN+ and live stats will be available. |
The Leadoff Report
Miners at the Plate
The Miners enter Tuesday's contest swinging confidently and putting up numbers that rank among the best in Conference USA and the nation.
UTEP leads CUSA in double plays with 24, a mark that places them sixth nationally. The Miners also sit fifth in the country in double plays per game (0.62).
They rank second in the league in triples (10) and triples per game (0.26), and third in team batting average (.303) and slugging percentage (.490).
UTEP's power numbers continue to climb as they sit 71st in the NCAA in home runs per game (0.95), 72nd in total home runs (37), and 74th in doubles (58).
Senior infielder Ajia Richard continues to lead the way for the Miners with a dominant all-around season. Richard ranks second in Conference USA and twelfth nationally in batting average at .473. She's also second in the league in on-base percentage (.563) and third in both hits (53) and slugging percentage (.795). She leads UTEP in home runs (9), doubles (9), and walks (21), while serving as the offensive anchor for a lineup that averages 7.9 hits and 4.6 runs per game.
Defensively, Madi Mendoza continues to shine for UTEP. She leads Conference USA in sacrifice flies with four (27th in the NCAA), is second in assists per game (2.28), and third in total assists (89). She brings consistency to the middle infield while also producing key situational offense.
In the Circle
UTEP has utilized five pitchers throughout the season, with Taja Felder and Serenity Jacoway carrying the bulk of the innings. Felder has made 14 starts in 20 appearances, while Jacoway leads the staff with 72.1 innings pitched. She's appeared in 20 games and has thrown five of UTEP's 13 complete games. As a staff, the Miners hold a 4.77 ERA with 98 strikeouts and 135 walks across 39 games.
Conference USA Weekly Honors
Richard was named Conference USA Player of the Week on April 7 following an eye-popping performance in UTEP's series sweep over New Mexico State. She hit .818 (9-for-11) across the three games, adding three doubles, one RBI and eleven total bases, while posting a 1.000 slugging percentage and an .833 on-base percentage. She was perfect at the plate in back-to-back games and flawless defensively, notching nine putouts and three assists. The honor marked her second Player of the Week award this season, making her the first Miner since 2012 to collect multiple weekly honors in a single campaign. Her first came on February 17, when she hit .857 with six home runs and 10 RBIs over a five-game weekend at the Dr. Diana Natalicio Memorial Tournament, including a three-homer performance against Manhattan that tied a conference record.
Freshman Marissa Burchard has also emerged as a key contributor. She earned Conference USA Freshman of the Week on March 24 after hitting .545 in UTEP's first-ever series win over WKU. She went 6-for-11 with a .727 slugging percentage and a .583 on-base percentage, including a game-tying RBI triple in the opener that helped spark a 5-4 walk-off victory. Burchard has been especially effective against conference pitching, hitting .406 with a team-high 13 hits in nine league games.
National Recognition
Richard's outstanding season has drawn national attention. She has been ranked among the top third basemen in the country by both D1Softball and Softball America. D1Softball listed her as the No. 10 third baseman through weeks 4, 6, and 8 of the season, while Softball America ranked her No. 7 at the start of March and No. 15 heading into April.
Scouting New Mexico
- New Mexico enters the matchup at 20-20-1 overall and 5-8 in Mountain West play, fresh off a series win over Colorado State.
- The Lobos are 19-15 all-time against the Miners and will host the return game in Albuquerque on April 22.
- UNM is led offensively by Ashley Archuleta, who tops the team in eight statistical categories including batting average (.397), slugging percentage (.595), on-base percentage (.493), doubles (12), triples (4), runs scored (33), and total bases (69). She has tallied a team-high 15 multi-hit games this season.
- In the circle, McKenna Guest has been a difference-maker for the Lobos. She ranks 15th nationally in shutouts with four, 34th in strikeouts with 120, and 37th in wins with 14. Guest also ranks among the Mountain West leaders in starts, ERA (2.62), strikeouts looking, and total appearances.
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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.
