UTEP Softball Walks Off Sam Houston in Series Finale
EL PASO, Texas – UTEP softball secured a dramatic 3-2 walk-off victory over Sam Houston in the series finale Sunday afternoon at Helen of Troy Field, closing out Conference USA opening weekend.
With the win, the Miners improved to 9-12 overall and 1-2 in CUSA play, while the Bearkats moved to 16-10 overall and 2-1 in league action.
Overall Recap
UTEP and Sam Houston each finished with seven hits in the tightly contested game. Kenna Carranza paced the Miners at the plate, going 2-for-3 and delivering the walk-off RBI. Halle Hogan and Bri Garcia also recorded RBIs, while Marissa Burchard and Garcia each added doubles and Hogan supplied the Miners’ lone home run.
Tatyana Vega earned the win in relief to improve to 8-4 on the season.
The victory marked UTEP’s fifth walk-off win of the year and the second delivered by Carranza. It was also the seventh time this season the Miners have won by a single run.
Game Summary
UTEP struck first in the bottom of the second. After Aaliyah Betancourt singled through the left side, Garcia drove a double into right-center field to bring Betancourt home and give the Miners a 1-0 lead.
Sam Houston answered in the third inning when a leadoff double came around to score on a single to center, tying the game at 1-1.
The Miners reclaimed the lead in the fourth inning when Hogan launched a leadoff home run to right field, putting UTEP ahead 2-1.
Sam Houston threatened again in the fifth inning, loading the bases with two outs, but UTEP reliever Tatyana Vega helped the Miners escape the jam and preserve the lead.
The Bearkats tied the game in the seventh inning after loading the bases and drawing an RBI walk to make it 2-2. UTEP responded defensively with a key pickoff at third for the second out before Vega recorded a strikeout to end the inning.
In the bottom of the seventh, the Miners delivered the final blow. Burchard led off with a double to left field before Carranza followed with a single to left, scoring Burchard and sealing the 3-2 walk-off victory.
On Deck
UTEP will remain at home to host nationally ranked Arizona State on Tuesday, March 10 at Helen of Troy Field. First pitch is scheduled for 2 p.m. MDT, with the game streaming on ESPN+.
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UTEP Softball Drops Game Two of Series to Sam Houston
EL PASO, Texas – UTEP softball dropped the second game of its three-game Conference USA series to Sam Houston, falling 13-5 in five innings Saturday afternoon at Helen of Troy Field.
UTEP moves to 8-12 overall and 0-2 in Conference USA play, while Sam Houston improves to 16-9 on the season and 2-0 in league action.
Game Summary
Sam Houston struck early with a 13-run first inning to take control of the contest. The Bearkats used a series of extra-base hits, including multiple doubles and a grand slam, to build a 13-0 advantage before the Miners recorded the final out of the frame.
UTEP answered in the bottom of the first inning. Jordan Credeur delivered a two-out double to left center that brought home Camrynn Guthrie and Marissa Burchard to get the Miners on the board.
The Miners chipped away again in the fourth inning. Brantley Lavas walked, while Marissa Burchard reached base and Kenna Carranza drew a walk to load the bases. Paige Lassiter then stepped in as a pinch hitter and ripped a double to left field, clearing the bases and driving in three runs to cut the deficit to 13-5.
UTEP threatened to continue the rally, but the Bearkats held the Miners scoreless the rest of the way to secure the five-inning victory.
UTEP outhit Sam Houston 7-6 in the contest and finished with a .280 team batting average compared to the Bearkats’ .260 mark.
Credeur paced the Miners offensively with two hits, including a double, and two RBIs. Lassiter provided a key spark off the bench with a three-RBI double in the fourth inning.
Lavas and Carranza each drew a walk for UTEP.
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UTEP Softball Falls to Sam Houston in CUSA Opener
EL PASO, Texas – UTEP softball fell to Sam Houston, 6-0, in the Conference USA series opener Friday night at Helen of Troy Field.
The Miners move to 8-11 overall and 0-1 in CUSA play, while the Bearkats improve to 15-9 overall and 1-0 in league action.
Sam Houston struck early, plating two runs in the top of the first inning when a two-run homer to right field gave the visitors a 2-0 lead. The Bearkats added another run in the second on an RBI single through the right side to push the advantage to 3-0.
Sam Houston continued to build on its lead with a solo home run to left field in the third inning, making it 4-0. The Bearkats added an unearned run in the fourth after a bunt reached on an error, allowing a runner to score, before a sacrifice fly in the fifth inning capped the scoring at 6-0.
Sam Houston pitcher Tiffany Sanchez tossed a no-hitter against the Miners. The lone blemish came when UTEP’s Marissa Burchard was hit by a pitch as the first batter of the game.
Tatyana Vega earned the start in the circle for the Miners and was tagged with the loss, moving to 7-4 on the season. Vega pitched 4.0 innings and recorded five strikeouts. Arianna Flores entered in relief in the fifth inning, striking out one while allowing one unearned run and no hits.
