EL PASO, Texas – UTEP softball continues Conference USA play this weekend with a three-game road series at FIU Panthers softball in Miami, Florida, March 13–14.
The weekend slate will feature a doubleheader on Friday at 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. MDT, followed by a single game on Saturday at 11 a.m. MDT at Felsberg Field at Baptist Health Stadium.
Schedule
Friday, March 13
At FIU (DH) | 1 & 4 pm MDT
Saturday, March 14
At FIU | 11 am MDT
Coverage:
Live Stats |
ESPN+
Last Time Out
UTEP fell to Arizona State, 10-1, in a midweek matchup Tuesday afternoon at Helen of Troy Field. The Miners moved to 9-13 on the season while Arizona State improved to 20-6.
Arizona State built an early lead with three runs in the second inning and added a two-run home run in the third to stretch the advantage to 5-0. UTEP responded in the bottom half of the third when freshman
Aaliyah Betancourt launched a solo home run over the right-field wall to put the Miners on the board.
The Sun Devils added insurance runs throughout the contest, including a late four-run seventh inning, to secure the 10-1 decision. Betancourt led the Miners at the plate, going 2-for-2 with the home run and UTEP's lone run scored.
Leadoff Report
Offensive Leaders
Marissa Burchard has been a key catalyst for the Miners, leading the team with a .425/.481/.726 slash line. She also paces UTEP in runs (22), hits (31), doubles (11), total bases (53) and stolen bases (9-of-10).
Burchard and
Brantley Lavas are the only two Miners to start all 22 games this season, while
Camrynn Guthrie has started 21 contests.
Carranza leads the team with 16 RBI, followed closely by Burchard with 15. Burchard, Guthrie and Carranza have each launched three home runs this season, including a Carranza grand slam. Burchard, Lavas and
Cece Marquez have also recorded triples.
As a team, UTEP is batting .321 with 193 hits, including 52 doubles, three triples and 18 home runs, while drawing 53 walks and stealing 16 bases.
In the Circle
Tatyana Vega has led the pitching staff with an 8-4 record and a 4.99 ERA. She tops the staff in appearances (17), starts (8), innings pitched (73.0), complete games (3) and strikeouts (36).
UTEP pitchers have combined for 65 strikeouts and hold a 7.54 ERA through the first 22 games.
Defensive Notes
The Miners have posted a .973 fielding percentage and turned nine double plays this season.
Iliana Munoz leads the team with 86 putouts at first base, while Betancourt has recorded 46 assists at third base and Burchard has added 42 assists from shortstop. Burchard and
Bri Garcia also lead the team with five double plays turned each.
National Rankings
Team:
- 1st nationally in doubles per game (2.36) – leads CUSA
- 6th nationally in total doubles (52) – leads CUSA
- 48th nationally in fielding percentage (.973) – third in CUSA
Individually:
- Burchard – 6th in doubles per game (0.50) and 8th in total doubles (11).
- Vega – 28th in innings pitched (73.0), 34th in victories (8) and 38th in appearances (17).
- Guthrie – 28th in sacrifice flies (3)
- Garcia – 83rd in sacrifice bunts per game (0.18)
Walk-Off Wins
Five of UTEP's victories this season have come via walk-off fashion:
- vs. UT Arlington – 16-15 comeback win after trailing by 10 runs
- vs. Montana – 15-14 (8 innings)
- vs. Idaho State – 5-4
- vs. Houston Christian – 3-2
- vs. Sam Houston – 3-2
Game Situations
UTEP has played several tight contests this season:
- 7-2 in one-run games
- 0-3 in two-run games
- 2-8 in games decided by five or more runs
- 1-2 in extra-inning games
- 0-3 in shutouts
Scouting FIU
FIU enters the weekend 19-5 overall and 1-2 in Conference USA after earning its first league win in the series finale at Delaware. Meagan Villazon delivered a standout performance in that victory, tossing a complete game while allowing just two hits and striking out eight. Offensively, Zamya McBurrows hit .455 during the Delaware series with five RBI. Leah Clark also batted .455 and recorded two triples over the weekend.
Kally Meredith has been one of the most dangerous hitters in Conference USA, leading the league in batting average (.519), on-base percentage (.570), runs (30) and hits (40). Meredith and Clark rank first and second in the conference in both triples and stolen bases, while Clark's 19 stolen bases rank among the top marks nationally. FIU's 56 stolen bases also rank in the top 10 nationally.
Series History
UTEP leads the all-time series 13-6 and enters the weekend riding a four-game winning streak against the Panthers.
Last season, the Miners swept the series in El Paso with wins of 7-6, 7-0 and 16-6 (five innings), combining to score 30 runs across the three games.
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