Cristina Cobb-Adams will enter her sixth season as an assistant coach at UTEP.
In 2018, Cobb-Adams primarily directed the pitching staff in her fifth season, which included a pair of transfers who made immediate impacts in the circle for the Miners.
Kira McKechnie, a transfer from Fresno State, was part of UTEP’s seventh ever no-hitter and first combined no-hit effort – with Devyn Cretz – in program history against New Mexico on Feb. 17 during an 8-0 [5] win. McKechnie led the staff with nine wins during her first season and tallied 92 strikeouts. Julia Wright, a transfer from Ranger College, led Conference USA and tied a UTEP single-season record with four saves, while winning games and leading the staff with 97 K’s. Wright and McKechnie each hurled 134.1 innings to lead the staff. Wright’s 97 K’s were the most by a UTEP pitcher since 2012.
Sophomore Allie Johnson also picked up her first collegiate wins after posting a win against UAB on March 18 and picking up her second victory at WKU on April 7.
The pitching staff combined for five saves in 2018, tied for second most during a single-season. UTEP ranked third in C-USA in the saves’ department.
The Miners tallied five shutouts, a 7-0 win against Saint Mary’s College, an 8-0 [5] win on Feb. 17 and a 7-0 victory on April 16 against New Mexico, a 9-0 blanking of Idaho State (Feb. 24) and a 1-0 win against East Carolina in Hawai’i. The five goose eggs were the most since nine shutouts in 2010.
The UTEP staff ranked sixth in C-USA with its 233 strikeouts, while 70 of those were looking, also ranking sixth.
Cobb-Adams assisted with other facets of the program as well.
Defensively, UTEP turned 22 double plays, ranking tied first in C-USA with Florida Atlantic, while it’s the third most double plays turned during a single season in program history. Turning double plays has been a staple since Tobin Echo-Hawk’s and Cobb-Adam’s arrival. The Miners have turned 82 double plays the last three seasons, including a school record 30 in 2016 and another 30 the following year.
Offensively, UTEP’s .286 batting average ranked second in C-USA, while the Miners ranked third in C-USA in slugging (.425), fifth in runs scored (229), fourth in hits (406) and tied for fifth with 34 home runs. UTEP also ranked third in doubles (70) and second in triples (12). The triples in 2018 tied for most in school history (12 triples in 2015 and 2005).
Other program records included 58 errors committed in 2018, the fewest during a single season while ranking tied for fourth least errors committed in C-USA. UTEP base runners were also caught only four times stealing (28-32) a new program record. UTEP caught 30 base runners stealing, which led C-USA and set a program single-season record. UTEP’s .962 fielding percentage ranked fourth in C-USA and tied the 2016 squad (the 2018 team had 1,032 chances to 1,021 chances in 2016).
In her fourth year, Cobb-Adams was the primary pitching coach for a second consecutive season. Under her tutelage, senior Erika Harrawood earned her first win of her career after defeating Utah State on Feb. 24. Harrawood threw 6.0 frames, struck out five and only walked one. After entering her senior campaign with an ERA over 10.00 and 33 Ks in her career, Harrawood led the staff in ERA (5.39), strikeouts (53), appearances (29), starts (17) and innings pitched (100.0) in 2017.
Other pitching notables included freshman Devyn Cretz producing positive outings as she led the team in wins (five). Cretz earned her first collegiate win on March 1 at NM State, as she threw 5.1 frames and tallied five strikeouts. Kaitlin Fifield concluded her career with 24 wins (ranked for t-third in program history) and five saves (ranked for second on the program’s all-time list). Fifield led the team in saves (three) and ranked t-second in C-USA. She also led the staff in complete games (five). Taylor Grohmann won a pair of contests, the first came at Incarnate Word where she tossed a complete game (5.0 innings), tallied a K and walked none. The second victory came on the last day of the season against Florida Atlantic. In fact, versus the Owls on the final day, Harrawood made the start, throwing 3.1 innings (3 Ks, 0 BB), Grohmann tossed an inning to earn the 'W', and Fifield finished the contest (2.2 IP) to notch the save.
Cobb-Adams also assisted in other areas, as UTEP hit .299 as a team, the third best average in school history. Defensively, the Miners turned 30 double plays to match last season’s school record. UTEP’s .63 double plays turned per game ranked first in Conference USA and t-third nationally.
UTEP finished the 2016 season with a 23-32 record, including a 13-11 mark in C-USA action – the first ever winning conference record in school history. The Miners also advanced to the C-USA Tournament for the first time since the 2010 season, while rallying to defeat FIU, 5-4, on May 11 for their first postseason victory since 2009.
Cobb-Adams mentored the pitching staff for just the second season and saw great improvements. In 2016, UTEP tossed three shutouts. The highlight was when junior Kaitlin Fifield tossed a no-hitter against Texas A&M-C.C. during a 2-0 win in College Station on Feb. 27. It was the first no-no since 2010, and sixth overall. Fifield was also named C-USA co-Pitcher of the Week on Feb. 28, which was also the first pitcher of the week accolade since the 2010 season. Senior Danielle Pearson kept zeros across the board in a pair of outings – the first at UNLV (6-0) and the second against LA Tech in El Paso (8-0 run-rule win). The staff’s three goose eggs were the most since the 2010 season. Miner hurlers also threw 27 complete games in 2016, the third most in school history and most since 2010 (29 CGs).
UTEP’s overall ERA (5.33) was the lowest since 2013, while its 166 walks are the fewest allowed in program history. The Miners’ 3.41 walks allowed per seven innings are the third lowest in school history. The staff also cut down on home runs allowed, as the Miners gave up 39 dingers compared to 49 given up in 2015 and 48 in 2014.
Though Cobb-Adams mainly focused on the pitchers, she also assisted with other facets of the program. The Miners set school records in multiple statistical categories, as they finished with the best batting average (.307) in school history, most hits (451), most assists (533), most double plays turned (30) and highest fielding percentage (.962). UTEP’s slugging percentage (.476) is second best, while its 85 doubles and 699 total bases are also second most. The Miners hit 51 home runs, the fourth most in school annals and most since hitting 50 in 2007. The defense also committed 61 errors, the third fewest in program history. UTEP’s .55 double plays per game ranked no. 1 in C-USA and seventh nationally, while its doubles per game (1.55) ranked first in conference and 29th nationally. The Miners’ team batting average ranked third in conference and no. 48 nationally, while their home runs per game (.93) ranked second in C-USA and 58th nationally.
The 2015 season saw a UTEP pitcher record more strikeouts than walks for the first time since 2011. Fifield registered 90 Ks and 73 walks. Fifield’s nine victories were the most since Courtney Auger’s eight wins in 2011. Fifield produced solid home numbers, assembling an 8-3 record with a 2.10 ERA, 43 Ks and 23 walks in 60.0 innings.
The offense hit .293, ranking second best average in school history. It was also the first time in school history that the Miners hit .290 or better for a second consecutive season. The team tallied 416 hits – the third most in program history and 14 more knocks than the season before.
Also on the offensive, the Miners grinded out 12 triples, tying the single-season record, while hitters set a school record by only striking out 189 times. Defensively, a school record was set as the Miners tallied 489 assists, while their 21 double plays turned tied a program record.
The Miners won nine Conference USA games for a second consecutive season. UTEP’s 18 league wins the last two seasons is the most since winning 19 during the 2009 and 2010 campaigns.
UTEP began C-USA play with a 3-0 record after sweeping Middle Tennessee on March 8 and 9 in El Paso. It was the third time in school history the Miners started league play undefeated. Following the sweep of the Blue Raiders, the Orange and Blue swept a two-game series against Texas Tech at the Helen of Troy Softball Complex. The Miners began the home season undefeated (5-0). UTEP finished its home schedule with an 11-7 record, matching its 2014 home mark.
The Miners ended the 2014 season with nine league wins after winning just six the past three seasons, while their 17 overall wins were the most in four seasons. The season-ending 4-1 victory over East Carolina on May 4 was only the second time UTEP ended a season with a win - the last coming to end the 2006 season, a 5-1 win over UAB on May 7.
UTEP recorded its’ first-ever road sweep of a conference opponent - a three-game cleanup over LA Tech on March 15-16. The Miners also completed a conference home sweep over Middle Tennessee (April 12-13). It was the first home sweep of a league foe since the 2010 season.
Offensively, UTEP finished with a team batting average of .290 - third best in program history at the time. The team’s 402 hits is fifth time the Miners have reached 400+ hits in a season.
Defensively, after compiling 89 errors in 2012 and 81 in 2011, the Miners committed 69 errors - the fourth least in program history. Their .952 fielding percentage was the best since the 2011 season (.953).
Cobb-Adams was an assistant at Portland State under Echo-Hawk for the 2013 season. Prior to Portland State, she had spent the previous five years as an assistant coach at Princeton, her alma mater. Cobb-Adams helped the Tigers to the Ivy League Championship in 2008.
The 2006 graduate of Princeton University was a four-year starter at shortstop for the Tigers. She helped guide Princeton to three Ivy League Championships and a trio of NCAA Regional appearances (2003, 2005 and 2006). She earned All-Ivy League honors twice and was a team captain her senior season.
The native of Dublin, Calif. started 200 of Princeton’s 202 games during her career while logging 627 at-bats, fourth most in program history. She completed her playing career with 161 hits, 32 doubles, five triples and 69 RBI while compiling a .257 batting average.
