EL PASO, Texas – UTEP softball will close out the 2026 season on the road with a three-game Conference USA series at Louisiana Tech in Ruston. Due to forecasted weather in the area, the schedule has been adjusted, with Thursday featuring a doubleheader beginning at 11 a.m. MT / 12 p.m. CT, followed by game two at 1 p.m. MT / 2 p.m. CT. The series finale is set for Saturday, May 2 at 10 a.m. MT / 11 a.m. CT.
Schedule
Thursday, April 30
at LA Tech (DH) | 11 am & 1pm MDT
Saturday, May 2
at LA Tech | 10 am MDT
Coverage: Live Stats | ESPN+
Last Time Out
UTEP (12-34, 4-20 CUSA) faced a challenging stretch in its final home games, beginning with a midweek doubleheader against nationally ranked then-No. 5 Texas Tech. The Red Raiders swept both contests, outscoring the Miners 27-1 and outhitting UTEP 22-2 across the two games. Cece Marquez and Iliana Munoz accounted for UTEP's lone hits in each contest.
In the circle, Tatyana Vega provided a bright spot in relief during game two, tossing 5.0 innings with three strikeouts against the Red Raiders. She fanned Victoria Valdez swinging to end the second inning, caught Desirae Spearman looking to open the fourth, and struck out Nijaree Canady swinging to close the frame.
UTEP then hosted Missouri State in its final Conference USA home series of the season. Vega delivered a complete-game effort with four strikeouts in Friday's opener, while Paige Lassiter drove in the Miners' lone run in a 3-1 loss. The Miners fell 8-0 in five innings in Saturday's contest before bouncing back in Sunday's finale.
Behind a perfect 3-for-3 performance from Aaliyah Betancourt, UTEP rallied for a 6-5 victory to close out its home slate on Senior Weekend. Betancourt added an RBI in the win, helping spark the late comeback.
For the series, Betancourt went 3-for-7, while Brantley Lavas and Marissa Burchard each recorded two RBI. UTEP totaled 16 hits, drew seven walks and committed zero errors defensively. Vega went 1-1 in the circle with a 4.00 ERA, tossing two complete games over 14.0 innings with eight strikeouts.
The Leadoff Report
Offensive Leaders
Iliana Munoz leads the Miners offensively with a .317/.374/.483 slash line. Marissa Burchard, the only Miner to start all 46 games this season, paces the team with 30 runs, 41 hits and 13 doubles. Burchard, Marquez and Lavas account for UTEP's three triples on the year.
Kenna Carranza leads the power categories with seven home runs, 27 RBI and 20 walks, while Halle Hogan and Camrynn Guthrie share the team lead with three sacrifice flies each. Burchard is also 9-for-11 in stolen bases.
As a team, UTEP is batting .263 with 303 hits, including 71 doubles and 27 home runs, while drawing 123 walks and going 21-for-31 on stolen base attempts.
In the Circle
Vega leads the staff with a 9-13 record, a team-best 5.44 ERA, 33 appearances, 16 starts, six complete games, two saves, 131.1 innings pitched and 64 strikeouts. The Miners' pitching staff holds a 7.58 ERA with 113 strikeouts.
Defensive Notes
Munoz anchors first base with 209 putouts, while Betancourt (88 assists) and Burchard (86 assists) lead the infield. Carranza has thrown out eight runners stealing, and UTEP owns a .969 fielding percentage with 17 double plays turned this season.
Pinch-Hit Power
Paige Lassiter holds the UTEP program record with four career pinch-hit home runs. She is also one of just two players in school history to hit a pinch-hit grand slam, joining Lindsey Sokoloski, whose grand slam was an inside-the-park home run. Megan Whiteaker and Amaya Lee each added two pinch-hit home runs during their careers.
National Numbers
UTEP ranks 84th nationally in doubles (71) and 70th in doubles per game (1.54), both top-three marks in Conference USA. The Miners are also 74th in fielding percentage (.969). Individually, Vega ranks 72nd in appearances (33) and 94th in innings pitched (131.1).
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:
- 8-4 in one-run games
- 1-5 in two-run games
- 2-23 in games decided by five or more runs
- 1-2 in extra-inning games
- 0-8 in shutouts
Scouting Louisiana Tech
Louisiana Tech enters the series at 26-23 overall and 12-12 in Conference USA after sweeping Liberty, handing the Flames their first conference series sweep in 11 seasons.
Gracie Flores earned CUSA Player of the Week honors after hitting .500 with five RBI in the series, while Bryannah Campos was named Pitcher of the Week after earning two wins in relief with a 2.21 ERA across 12.2 innings. Campos is tied for second on the team with seven wins and has recorded 45 strikeouts in 76.0 innings with a 3.59 ERA.
Allie Furr leads the Bulldogs offensively with a .368/.411/.406 slash line and 57 hits. In the circle, Allie Floyd has logged 133.0 innings with a 9-14 record, 26 starts in 32 appearances and 98 strikeouts. As a staff, Louisiana Tech holds a 3.98 ERA with 188 strikeouts.
Defensively, the Bulldogs carry a .972 fielding percentage and have turned 12 double plays this season.
Series History
UTEP and Louisiana Tech have met 45 times, with the Bulldogs holding a 28-17 advantage. Louisiana Tech has won the last five meetings, including a three-game sweep in El Paso last season.
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