EL PASO, Texas – UTEP Softball returns to Helen of Troy Field for its final home series of the regular season, hosting Kennesaw State in a three-game Conference USA matchup from April 25-27 in El Paso. The Miners (19-24, 8-13 CUSA) look to continue their hot streak during a meaningful Senior Weekend, celebrating the accomplishments of seven standout student-athletes.
Senior Weekend Festivities
Following both Saturday and Sunday's games, UTEP will honor its senior class with special postgame ceremonies. The Miners will recognize the contributions of Ajia Richard, Amaya Lee, Ashlynn Griffith, Taja Felder, Jordyn Lopez, Anisa Reynolds, and Rylan Dooner, each of whom has made a lasting impact on the program.
Ticket Information
Single-game tickets for UTEP Softball are available for $8. Fans can secure their seats by visiting www.UTEPMiners.com/Tickets or at the gate on game day.
Schedule (MT)
| DATE |
TIME |
MATCHUP |
PROMO |
| FRI. April 25 |
6 PM |
UTEP vs Kennesaw State |
|
| SAT. April 26 |
3 PM |
UTEP vs Kennesaw State |
Senior Day |
| SUN. April 27 |
1 PM |
UTEP vs Kennesaw State |
Senior Day |
| Coverage: ESPN+ | Live Stats |
The Leadoff Report
Miners at the Plate
The Miners enter the weekend riding a five-game winning streak, highlighted by a commanding sweep over FIU. UTEP has become one of the league's most potent offensive forces, leading Conference USA in double plays (29), double plays per game (0.66), and slugging percentage (.526)—all top-35 marks nationally.
UTEP also ranks second in CUSA in batting average (.315), triples (13), and triples per game (0.30), while standing third in doubles per game (1.50), home runs (50), home runs per game (1.14), on-base percentage (.389), RBIs per game (4.70), and scoring (5.14). The Miners' offense has consistently delivered timely power, smart base running, and strong plate discipline throughout the season.
UTEP's success has been fueled by standout individual performances across the board. Senior Ajia Richard has emerged as one of the top hitters in the nation, leading CUSA with a .492 batting average (4th NCAA) and 63 hits (27th NCAA). She also ranks 2nd in CUSA in on-base percentage (.578, 9th NCAA) and slugging percentage (.859, 32nd NCAA), while sitting 3rd in the league in total bases (110, 40th NCAA).
Defensively, Madi Mendoza leads CUSA and ranks top-25 nationally in assists (107, 20th NCAA), assists per game (2.43, 24th NCAA), and sacrifice flies (5, 13th NCAA).
In the Circle
UTEP has deployed five pitchers in 2025, led by graduate student Taja Felder (10-9), who has appeared in a team-high 24 games with 16 starts. Serenity Jacoway leads the team with 78.2 innings pitched across 22 appearances.
Rivalry Dominance
UTEP wrapped up its rivalry slate in emphatic fashion on Tuesday evening (April 22) with a 7-3 win at New Mexico, completing a season sweep of the Lobos. The victory pushed the Miners to a perfect 5-0 record against UNM and NMSU, tying the program record for most rivalry wins in a single season.
The Miners dominated throughout the rivalry stretch, outscoring their opponents 39-15—including a 22-10 advantage over NMSU and a 17-5 edge against UNM. The win also marked a major milestone, securing back-to-back 20-win seasons for the first time in 15 years.
Conference USA Weekly Honors
The Miners have collected a slew of CUSA weekly awards this season, underscoring the team's depth and individual excellence:
- Week 11 Player of the Week: Bri Garcia – Slashed .600/.667/1.600 with 7 RBIs and 3 home runs across four games, including a walk-off grand slam to complete the sweep of FIU.
- Week 11 Freshman of the Week: Marissa Burchard – Hit .429 with 3 home runs and 6 RBIs; delivered a clutch game-tying homer and jumpstarted key rallies throughout the weekend.
- Week 9 Player of the Week: Ajia Richard – Hit an absurd .818 in a sweep of NM State with perfect fielding and offensive consistency.
- Week 7 Freshman of the Week: Marissa Burchard – Batted .545 during a historic series win over WKU; delivered multiple key hits including a game-tying triple.
- Week 2 Player of the Week: Ajia Richard – Tournament MVP at the Dr. Diana Natalicio Memorial, hitting .857 with six homers and a 2.214 slugging percentage.
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 Kennesaw State
- Kennesaw State (10-37, 1-20 CUSA) visits El Paso for the first time.
- The Owls are batting .236 as a team with 20 home runs and a 5.00 ERA. Offensively, Ava Guzowski has led the way, starting all 47 games while slashing .286/.390/.444 with 38 hits and 19 RBIs.
- In the circle, Emma Friedel leads the staff with a 3.97 ERA and 102 strikeouts in 98.2 innings pitched.
- KSU is 2-0 all-time against UTEP, with both wins coming in March 2006.
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.
