DENTON, Texas – The UTEP softball team (10-23, 2-10 Conference USA) fell to North Texas (21-7, 10-2 C-USA) 8-2 to close out the conference series Sunday afternoon at Lovelace Stadium.
The Miners jumped to an early lead and hung tough for five innings, racking up two solo home runs, but was just not enough as the Mean Green pulled away late in the game with a series of homeruns themselves.
Pate Cathey’s solo home run in the second inning gave the first lead for the Miners this series.
That lead would hold up until the bottom of the fourth. North Texas broke through a leadoff single by Molly Rainey and a walk drawn by Karsyn Itlis. A couple of bats later Emma Grahmann reached on a UTEP error plating Rainey for an RBI and Iltis to take the lead, 2-1.
The Miner’s quickly tied up the game, 2-2, as Anna Sample drove a solo shot over right field to lead off the inning.
North Texas reciprocated with a leadoff long-ball by Kailey Gamble and then recorded an RBI double by Grahamm to double the score, 4-2.
The Mean Green extended the lead 8-2 in the sixth with a pair of two-run home runs by Kalei Christensen and Rainey, respectively.
UNT’s relief pitcher, Skylar Savage, held the Miners to no run in the seventh to secure the series sweep.
Miner Quick Hits
- Pate Cathey: 1-for-3, HR, RBI
- Anna Sample: 1-for-3, HR, RBI
- Marijn Crouwel: 1-for-3
ON DECK
UTEP will be back in action as it hosts I-10 rival New Mexico State (8-22, 2-6 WAC) at the Helen of Troy Softball Complex on Tuesday April 5 at 6 p.m. MT.