EL PASO, Texas – UTEP softball kicks off its final homestand of the 2026 season with a sold-out, marquee doubleheader against nationally ranked No. 5 Texas Tech on Wednesday, April 23. First pitch is set for 5 p.m. MT, with game two to follow at 7 p.m. at Helen of Troy Field.
Schedule
Wednesday, April 22
#5 Texas Tech (DH) | 5 & 7pm MDT
Coverage: Live Stats | ESPN+
Last Time Out
UTEP (11-30, 3-18 Conference USA) is coming off a tough road series at Western Kentucky. The Miners dropped Friday's doubleheader, falling 9-0 in six innings in game one and 7-1 in game two, before closing the series with an 8-3 loss on Sunday.
Kenna Carranza paced the offense, going 2-for-8 with two home runs and four RBI across the three games. In the circle, UTEP utilized four pitchers, with Hannah Jones logging a team-high 6.0 innings.
The Leadoff Report
Offensive Leaders
Iliana Munoz leads the Miners at the plate with a .321/.373/.495 slash line, while Marissa Burchard and Brantley Lavas are the only two players to start all 41 games this season, with Aaliyah Betancourt (40 starts) and Munoz (36 starts) also appearing in every contest.
Burchard paces the team with 29 runs, 39 hits and 12 doubles, while Carranza leads in power categories with seven home runs and 27 RBI. Carranza has also drawn a team-high 19 walks, followed closely by Lavas with 18.
As a team, UTEP is batting .271 with 285 hits, including 67 doubles and 26 home runs, while drawing 115 walks and going 20-for-29 in stolen base attempts.
In the Circle
Tatyana Vega leads the pitching staff with a 5.55 ERA, an 8-12 record, four complete games and two saves across 112.1 innings. She has made 30 appearances, including 14 starts, and leads the team with 53 strikeouts. Arianna Flores has also made 14 starts in 25 appearances. As a staff, the Miners hold a 7.45 ERA with 100 strikeouts.
Defensive Notes
Munoz leads the team with 178 putouts, while Betancourt (79) and Burchard (76) anchor the infield in assists. UTEP holds a .966 fielding percentage and has turned 17 double plays this season.
National Rankings
UTEP ranks 50th nationally in doubles per game (1.63), which is second in Conference USA. Individually, Vega ranks 75th in pitching appearances (30) and 93rd in saves (2), placing among the top performers in the conference in both categories.
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:
- 7-4 in one-run games
- 1-4 in two-run games
- 2-20 in games decided by five or more runs
- 1-2 in extra-inning games
- 0-6 in shutouts
Scouting Texas Tech
Texas Tech (42-4) enters the midweek matchup as one of the most explosive teams in the countr.
Desirae Spearman returns to her hometown of El Paso, carrying a .345 average with nine home runs and 39 RBI.
Mihyia Davis continues to cement her place among the nation's elite, ranking first among active players in hits (323), at-bats (794) and stolen bases (131). She is the only active player with 300 career hits.
In the circle, reigning National Pitcher of the Year NiJaree Canady recently surpassed 1,000 career strikeouts, becoming one of just two active players to reach that milestone while also owning 90 career wins.
Kaitlyn "KT" Terry has been dominant on both sides of the ball, leading the team with a .521 batting average—fourth best nationally—while also posting a 17-1 record and 1.48 ERA. She set a program record with a 24-game hitting streak and is currently riding a 34-game on-base streak.
Jackie Lis has added significant power with 14 home runs this season, bringing her career total to 58.
Series History
Texas Tech leads the all-time series, 17-7, and won both meetings last season in Lubbock. UTEP's last win over the Red Raiders came in 2024, when the Miners earned a 3-2 victory on the road.
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