EL PASO, Texas – UTEP softball hits the road for a midweek, non-conference contest at Arizona State on Tuesday, April 7. First pitch is set for 1 p.m. MST/2 p.m. MDT at Farrington Stadium.
Schedule
Tuesday, April 7
Arizona State | 2pm MDT
Farrington Field
Coverage:
Live Stats |
ESPN+
Last Time Out
The Miners enter the matchup at 11-23 overall (3-12 Conference USA) following a three-game series against Delaware this past weekend. UTEP dropped all three contests, falling 9-3 in the opener, 6-4 in game two, and 6-3 in the finale at Helen of Troy Field.
Despite the results,
Iliana Munoz paced the Miners offensively, going 5-for-11 (.455) with a double, a home run, four RBI, and nine total bases. She also anchored the defense at first base with 22 putouts and no errors. In the circle,
Tatyana Vega logged 9.0 innings across two appearances (one start), striking out five while posting a 3.11 ERA for the series.
The Leadoff Report
Offensive Leaders
Marissa Burchard continues to lead UTEP at the plate with a .364/.447/.579 slash line, pacing the team in runs (28), hits (39), and doubles (12). She is also one of two Miners—along with
Brantley Lavas—to start all 34 games this season.
Kenna Carranza provides the power, leading the squad with five home runs, including a grand slam, and 23 RBI. Carranza and Lavas share the team lead with 17 walks each.
As a team, UTEP is batting .296 with 163 hits, including 66 doubles, three triples, and 23 home runs. The Miners have also drawn 105 walks and are 20-for-29 in stolen base attempts.
In the Circle
In the circle, Vega leads the staff with a 4.91 ERA, an 8-9 record, 104.0 innings pitched, and 52 strikeouts across 26 appearances.
Arianna Flores has made 12 starts this season, complementing Vega's 11 starts. As a staff, UTEP holds a 7.37 ERA with 93 strikeouts.
Defensive Notes
The Miners hold a .973 fielding percentage, ranking among the top 35 nationally. Munoz leads the team with 123 putouts, while Betancourt has recorded a team-high 62 assists. Burchard and Garcia have each turned six double plays, and Carranza has thrown out five runners attempting to steal. UTEP has turned 11 double plays and caught 17 runners stealing as a team.
National Rankings
UTEP ranks among the nation's best in doubles production, sitting 10th in doubles per game (1.94) and 26th in total doubles (66), both marks leading or ranking near the top of Conference USA.
Individually, Burchard ranks in the top 50 nationally in both doubles and doubles per game, while Vega is among national leaders in appearances, innings pitched, and saves.
Bri Garcia also ranks 11th nationally in sacrifice bunts per game.
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
- 2-14 in games decided by five or more runs
- 1-2 in extra-inning games
- 0-3 in shutouts
Scouting Arizona State
Arizona State enters the contest at 29-11 overall after dropping two of three games to Kansas Jayhawks softball last weekend.
Samantha Swan leads ASU with a .368 batting average, while Ashleigh Mejia (44 hits), Katie Chester (42), and Emily Schepp (40) anchor a potent lineup. Chester also paces the team with 15 home runs and 47 RBI.
As a team, the Sun Devils are hitting .322 with 341 hits, 65 home runs, and 140 walks, alongside 41 stolen bases.
In the circle, Kenzie Brown leads the staff with a 2.95 ERA and 137 strikeouts, adding seven complete games, three shutouts, and three saves. Aissa Silva holds an 11-3 record, while Meika Lauppe leads the team in appearances (29). ASU boasts a 3.68 staff ERA with 265 strikeouts.
Series History
Arizona State leads the all-time series, 13-3, and has won 11 straight meetings against UTEP. The Miners' last victory in the series came in 2009 in Tempe.
Earlier this season, the two programs met on March 10 in El Paso, where Arizona State claimed a 10-1 victory.
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