EL PASO, Texas – UTEP softball will make the short trip to Las Cruces, N.M., for the annual Battle of I-10 rivalry series against NM State, set for April 10–12 at the NM State Softball Complex. First pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m. Friday, 6 p.m. Saturday and 1 p.m. Sunday.
The Miners enter the weekend at 11-24 overall, while the Aggies bring an 18-20 record and an 8-7 mark in Conference USA play into the three-game set.
Schedule
Friday, April 10
NM State | 3pm MDT
NM State Softball Complex
Saturday, April 11
NM State | 6pm MDT
NM State Softball Complex
Sunday, April 12
NM State | 1pm MDT
NM State Softball Complex
Coverage: Live Stats | ESPN+
Last Time Out
UTEP is coming off a 13-0 setback against No. 23 Arizona State Tuesday afternoon at Farrington Stadium in Tempe. The Sun Devils struck early with five runs in the opening frame and never looked back, adding multiple runs across the next three innings to secure a run-rule victory.
The Miners were limited to two hits on the day, coming from Iliana Muñoz and Jayde Pagdilao, while Ari León reached base twice with a pair of walks. Tatyaana Vega took the loss in the circle, moving to 8-10 on the season.
The Leadoff Report
Offensive Leaders
Marissa Burchard continues to pace the Miners offensively, posting a .358/.440/.569 slash line. She leads the team in runs (28), hits (39), doubles (12), total bases (62) and stolen bases (9-11), and is the only Miner with at least 20 runs, 30 hits and 10 doubles this season.
Burchard and Brantley Lavas are the only players to have started all 35 games, while Aailyah Betancourt (34 starts), Bri Garcia (32) and Muñoz (30) have also been mainstays in the lineup.
Kenna Carranza leads the team with five home runs, including a grand slam, and 23 RBI, both team highs. Carranza and Lavas share the team lead with 17 walks apiece. Garcia has been effective in small-ball situations, leading the squad with nine sacrifice hits, while Halle Hogan and Camrynn Guthrie each have three sacrifice flies.
As a team, UTEP is batting .293 with 269 hits, 66 doubles, three triples and 23 home runs. The Miners have also drawn 107 walks and are 20-for-29 in stolen base attempts.
In the Circle
Vega anchors the pitching staff with a 5.20 ERA, an 8-10 record, 27 appearances and 105.0 innings pitched. She also leads the team with three complete games, two saves and 52 strikeouts. Arianna Flores has added 20 appearances and 12 starts. As a staff, UTEP holds a 7.64 ERA with 93 strikeouts.
Defensive Notes
Defensively, Muñoz leads the team with 148 putouts, while Betancourt has added 71. Burchard and Garcia have each been part of seven double plays turned, and Carranza has thrown out a team-high five runners attempting to steal. The Miners carry a .970 fielding percentage with 13 double plays and 17 runners caught stealing.
National Rankings
UTEP ranks among the NCAA's top 50 in doubles, sitting 37th nationally with 66 and 20th in doubles per game (1.89), which leads Conference USA.
Individually, Burchard ranks 57th in doubles and 52nd in doubles per game nationally. Vega ranks among the nation's leaders in innings pitched (105.0), appearances (27) and saves (2), while Garcia is 10th 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
- 2-15 in games decided by five or more runs
- 1-2 in extra-inning games
- 0-4 in shutouts
Scouting NM State
The Aggies enter the weekend hitting .319 as a team with 333 hits and 87 walks. Faith Aragon leads the offense with a .412 batting average, a .492 on-base percentage and 84 total bases, while also anchoring the pitching staff with a 2.81 ERA and 14 wins across 124.2 innings.
Kendal Lunar provides power in the lineup with 12 home runs and 33 RBI, both team highs. Makenzie Jones leads the team with eight stolen bases.
In the circle, NM State holds a 5.47 ERA with 207 strikeouts, and defensively the Aggies post a .939 fielding percentage.
Series History
NM State leads the all-time series 42-17, but UTEP swept last season's three-game set in El Paso. The Aggies' last win in the rivalry came in March 2024 with a 3-2 decision.
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