The UTEP softball team continued its fall season, as the Miners swept Sul Ross in a pair of games (9-1, 16-2) on Saturday afternoon at the Helen of Troy Softball Complex, but fell in a pair of contests (9-1, 6-1) to rival NM State in Las Cruces on Sunday afternoon.
On Saturday, Mariah Ellis connected on a grand slam in the sixth inning as UTEP pulled away to defeat Sul Ross, 9-0. Erika Harrawood started the contest, tossing 4.0 innings and fanning five batters.
The Miners scored early on the Lady Lobos with a pair of runs in the first inning, as the first was a Taylor Sargent single that plated leadoff hitter Ariel Blair. Kiki Pepi then plated Ellis on a sacrifice fly to right.
Kaitlin Ryder made the score 3-0 with a double to left field that scored Ellis. Pepi lined a solo home run in the sixth, making the score 9-0. Ellis finished the game 2-for-2 with four RBI, three runs scored, while also reaching base on a hit by pitch.
In game two, UTEP jumped on Sul Ross with a three-run first inning. Lindsey Sokoloski doubled in Blair, Sargent then plated Sokoloski and Ryder singled in Ellis.
UTEP scored five more runs in the third frame, as Mallorie Cross, Miranda Gutierrez and Sokoloski each tallied an RBI and Hope Moreno connected on a two-run triple. Cortney Smith hit a solo home run in the fifth, making the score 9-1 and the Miners poured on seven more runs the next few innings. Moreno finished the contest with five RBI after she doubled in three runs in the sixth.
At NM State in game one, UTEP tied the game 1-1 when Pepi doubled in Ellis. But the Aggies scored eight runs in the fifth, winning the contest 9-1.
In game two, the Miners took an early 1-0 advantage when Linda Garcia scored Macey Brown. The Aggies scored the next six runs to pull away. Allie Johnson made the start in the circle, hurling 3.0 frames and tallying five Ks.
Up next for UTEP is its final two fall games on Oct. 14. The Miners will host Midland College in a double header staring at 1 p.m. at the Helen of Troy Softball Complex. Both contests are free for all fans.
