The UTEP softball team hosted and swept the Texas Tech Red Raiders today at the Helen of Troy Softball Complex. The teams squared off twice today with the Miner getting the best of their Big-12 opponents on both occasions and increasing their win streak to five.
It is the second straight sweep for UTEP after they began Conference USA play by beating Middle Tennessee three times at home last weekend.
In the first game of today’s double-header, junior Danielle Pearson pitched a complete game striking out three and allowing only 2 earned runs. Offensively the Miners were lead by senior outfielder Tahla Wade who went 2-4 at the plate and one RBI.
UTEP prevailed in the first game of the day 5-3 over the Red Raiders.
In the second game of the double-header, the Miners began with sophomore Taylor Grohmann on the mound. The El Paso native pitched four innings, facing 17 battters, striking out one. She left the game after a tough fourth inning in which she allowed 3 runs and left her team trailing on the board 3-2.
Grohmann was relieved by fellow sophomore Kaitlin Fifield, who came into the game with a 4-3 lead thanks to a couple of runs in the bottom of the fourth. Fifield allow four runs to get on the board, but thanks to an explosive sixth inning from the Miner offense UTEP prevailed 9-7.
Wade once again made an impact with her bat, going 2-4 with another RBI, but it was senior outfielder Ashley Eldridge who led the Miner offense with two hits in three opportunities and bringing in three runs to the plate.
After the break from conference play and the five straight home games, UTEP will head on the road to resume conference play. The Miners will pay a visit to the UAB Blazers who are also undefeated in Conference USA after a sweep of North Texas and are ranked the 25th best team in the nation. UTEP will be in Birmingham, Ala., for a three game series starting on March 14.
Luis Gonzalez may be reached at [email protected].
