ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – UTEP softball split its opening day at the UNM Invitational on Friday, rallying for a 3-2 walk-off victory over Houston Christian before dropping a back-and-forth 8-7 decision in eight innings to host New Mexico at Lobo Softball Field.

Overall Recap

The Miners (7-7) delivered a strong offensive showing throughout the day, batting .419 (26-for-62) and outhitting their opponents 26-18. Six UTEP players recorded multiple hits, led by Marissa Burchard's standout performance at the plate (.667, 6-for-9). Brantley Lavas (.500, 4-for-8), Camrynn Guthrie (.571, 4-for-7), Aaliyah Betancourt (.500, 3-for-6) and Jordan Credeur (.600, 3-for-5) also paced the lineup, while both Burchard and Lavas posted multi-hit efforts in each game.

UTEP opened the day with its fourth walk-off win of the season and later erased a late deficit against New Mexico with a four-run seventh inning before the Lobos answered with a late rally of their own.

Game 1 UTEP 3, Houston Christian 2

Houston Christian struck first with single runs in the second and fourth innings to take a 2-0 lead.

UTEP broke through in the sixth when Hogan singled to left to drive in Betancourt and cut the deficit to one. The Miners completed the comeback in dramatic fashion in the seventh. Burchard led off the frame with a game-tying solo home run to left field, and later in the inning Kenna Carranza delivered the walk-off single to center to score pinch-runner Serenity Jacoway and secure the 3-2 victory.

Jacoway (1-0) made her 2026 season debut after a month-long absence and delivered a complete-game performance in the circle to earn the win. UTEP outhit the Huskies 14-7, and both teams played error-free defense.

Burchard went 3-for-4 with an RBI, while Guthrie also finished 3-for-4. Three Miners recorded extra-base hits, including a double and home run by Burchard and doubles from Guthrie and Credeur. Lavas and Guthrie each added a stolen base.

Game 2 New Mexico 8, UTEP 7 (8 inn.)

The Miners jumped on the board early when Guthrie singled home Burchard in the first. After falling behind 3-1, UTEP tied the game in the sixth on a sacrifice fly by Halle Hogan and an RBI double from Betancourt.

UTEP surged ahead in the seventh with a four-run rally. Carranza delivered the big swing with a bases-clearing double that brought home three runs, and Credeur followed with an RBI single to push the lead to 7-3.

New Mexico answered in the bottom half with a four-run inning, highlighted by a two-run home run and a pair of run-scoring extra-base hits, to tie the game at 7-7. The Lobos then completed the comeback with a walk-off RBI single in the eighth.

UTEP outhit New Mexico 12-11. Burchard went 3-for-5, while Carranza drove in three runs. Tatyana Vega tossed 6.2 innings before Kendall Angulo entered in relief and was charged with the loss.

Both teams committed two errors in the contest.

On Deck

UTEP continues play at the UNM Invitational on Saturday, Feb. 28, facing Houston Christian at 10 a.m. (MT) followed by Tarleton State at 12:30 p.m. (MT). There will be no stream available for either game.

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