EL PASO, Texas – UTEP softball welcomes defending back-to-back Conference USA champions Liberty for a three-game series at Helen of Troy Field during Heroes Weekend, March 19–21. The series begins Thursday and Friday at 6 p.m. MDT before concluding Saturday at 11 a.m. MDT.
Ticket Information
As part of Heroes Weekend, UTEP is offering $5 discounted tickets at the gate for teachers, healthcare workers, military members, first responders and everyday heroes in the community.
Single-game tickets are available for $8.35. Fans can secure their seats through the Eisenberg Family Ticket Office by calling (915) 747-UTEP, emailing tickets@utep.edu, visiting www.UTEPMiners.com/Tickets, or in person at 201 Glory Road (Brumbelow Building, UTEP Campus) during business hours Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Schedule
Thursday, March 19
Liberty | 6 pm MDT
Friday, March 20
Liberty | 6pm MDT
Saturday, March 21
Liberty | 11 am MDT
Coverage: Live Stats | ESPN+
Last Time Out
UTEP battled through a weather-disrupted weekend series at FIU but ultimately dropped all three games in Miami.
The series opener finally began late Friday night after lightning/weather delays forced several schedule adjustments. The Miners erased a two-run deficit to tie the game before FIU secured a 4-3 walk-off victory in the bottom of the seventh.
Saturday's doubleheader saw FIU complete the series sweep. The Panthers used a seven-run second inning to take control of the opener and went on to claim a 10-3 victory. Paige Lassiter highlighted the UTEP offense with a two-run home run in the fifth inning.
In the series finale, FIU built an early lead before the Miners answered in the fifth inning on a sacrifice fly from Brantley Lavas and an RBI double by Iliana Munoz. However, the Panthers responded with a six-run bottom of the inning to secure a 10-2 run-rule win and the series sweep.
LEADOFF REPORT
Offensive Leaders
Marissa Burchard has paced the Miner offense this season, leading the team with a .390/.444/.659 slash line. She also leads UTEP in at-bats (82), runs scored (23), hits (32), doubles (11), total bases (54) and stolen bases (9-of-10). Burchard is the only Miner with 80+ at-bats, 30+ hits, 20+ runs scored and double-digit doubles.
Burchard and Brantley Lavas are the only two Miners to start all 25 games this season. Camrynn Guthrie has made 24 starts, Bri Garcia has started 23 games, and Iliana Munoz has started 20 contests. All five have appeared in every game this season.
Kenna Carranza leads the team with 16 RBI, followed by Burchard (15) and Guthrie (14). Burchard, Guthrie and Carranza share the team lead with three home runs each, including a grand slam from Carranza. Burchard, Lavas and Cece Marquez account for UTEP's three triples this season.
Lavas leads the Miners with 12 walks, while Marquez has been hit by pitch three times. Guthrie leads the team with three sacrifice flies and Garcia has recorded five sacrifice bunts.
As a team, UTEP is batting .314 with 211 hits, including 55 doubles, three triples and 19 home runs. The Miners have also drawn 58 walks and stolen 16 bases in 22 attempts.
In the Circle
Tatyana Vega anchors the Miner pitching staff with a team-best 5.06 ERA and an 8-6 record in the circle. Vega has thrown three complete games while leading the team with 81.2 innings pitched and 40 strikeouts.
As a staff, UTEP holds a 7.68 ERA with 70 strikeouts this season.
Defensive Notes
Defensively, UTEP holds a .974 fielding percentage and has turned 10 double plays this year.
Munoz leads the team with 94 putouts at first base, while Burchard has recorded a team-high 51 assists at shortstop. Burchard has also helped turn six double plays, followed closely by Garcia with five.
National Rankings
As a team, the Miners rank third nationally in doubles per game (2.20), which also leads Conference USA, and 11th in total doubles (55). UTEP also ranks 36th nationally in fielding percentage (.974), the second-best mark in the conference.
Individually, Burchard ranks 10th nationally in doubles per game (0.44) and 14th in total doubles (11), both of which lead CUSA.
Vega ranks 36th nationally in appearances (19), 37th in innings pitched (81.2) and 52nd in victories (8).
Garcia ranks 58th nationally in sacrifice bunts per game (0.20), while Guthrie ranks 38th in sacrifice flies (3).
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:
- 7-3 in one-run games
- 0-3 in two-run games
- 2-10 in games decided by five or more runs
- 1-2 in extra-inning games
- 0-3 in shutouts
SCOUTING LIBERTY
Liberty enters the weekend with an 11-15 overall record and a 4-2 mark in Conference USA while carrying a four-game winning streak into the second half of its eight-game road swing.
The Lady Flames averaged nine runs per game last week while hitting .355 with eight home runs during a four-game stretch that included a win over James Madison and a three-game sweep at Middle Tennessee.
Brynn McManus earned CUSA Player of the Week honors after batting .545 with a double, three home runs and five RBI last week.
Carrasquillo leads the Liberty offense with a .346 batting average to go along with six home runs and 23 RBI and is currently on a seven-game hitting streak. Savannah Jessee (.321) has added four home runs and 19 RBI, while Ella Fox (.311) is tied for third in CUSA with three triples. McManus has hit five home runs with 13 RBI this season.
In the circle, Danner Allen (4-1, 4.91 ERA) and Camden Anders (4-1, 3.53 ERA) share the team lead with four wins. Duke transfer Gabby Mike (1-6, 4.12 ERA) recorded a career-high six strikeouts Sunday against Middle Tennessee, while Abigail Findlay (1-1, 3.75 ERA) has held opponents to a .152 batting average in 9.1 innings pitched. Caitlyn Nesbitt (1-1, 5.95 ERA) also picked up her first career win earlier this season.
SERIES HISTORY
Liberty leads the all-time series 7-1 and enters the weekend on a four-game winning streak against the Miners.
UTEP's lone victory in the series came in 2024 in El Paso when the Miners defeated Liberty 4-3 in the series finale.
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/X) and UTEP Softball on Facebook or visit the official home of UTEP Athletics at UTEPMiners.com.
