Jacoway's career day helps lead the Blue Raiders to impressive 6-1 game two victory to split doubleheader on Saturday at UTEP

Saturday, April 23

El Paso, TX

4:00 PM

Middle Tennessee

18-27, 5-11

UTEP

13-28, 3-13

Middle Tennessee

UTEP

Photo by: UTEP Strategic Communications

4/23/2022 11:19:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

By: Jonathan Caudle, MT Athletic Communications

EL PASO, TEXAS – After falling 2-1 in a tough series opener, a career day for sophomore Ashlee Jacoway helped to lift the Blue Raiders to an impressive 6-1 win in game two to split their doubleheader on Saturday against the UTEP Miners at Helen of Troy Softball Complex.

"I am pleased at how we bounced back in game two today," expressed head coach Jeff Breeden. "Dodd and Taitt both threw well today. Mead was stellar in game one, but we really struggled offensively. It's a shame because Gretchen was outstanding and deserved a win. Jacoway was huge for us in game two. She answered the bell when her name was put on the lineup card. She has character and I'm proud of her. We now turn to Championship Sunday and a chance to win this series!"

Middle Tennessee 1 – UTEP 2

The Blue Raiders led UTEP in hits, 1-0, through three scoreless innings to open the series opener.

However, it was the Miners that broke the scoreless stalemate in the fourth. UTEP's designated player Karina Somoza led off the inning with a single. After a pair of infield popouts, Ajia Richard drew a walk to put two on for the Miners. The Miners' catcher Marijn Crouwel then connected on an RBI-single to right-center to plate the Miners first run of the game. A Blue Raider error then allowed Richard to score and give the Miners a 2-0 lead after four.

The Blue Raiders looked to rally in the sixth. Freshman Laura Mealer connected on a one-out single to get the Blue Raiders started. Junior Kelci Hill then connected on her seventh double of the season to bring Mealer around from first and get one back for the Blue Raiders, 2-1. However, a lineout and a popout closed the inning and a 1-2-3 seventh stifled the Blue Raiders' rally and closed out the 2-1 win for the Miners.

Hill and Mealer led the Blue Raiders in the contest, going 2-for-3 and 1-for-3, respectively. Hill knocked across the Blue Raiders RBI in the contest, while Mealer scored the Blue Raiders' run. Junior Kaylee Richetto also recorded a hit for the Blue Raiders, going 1-for-3 during game one against the Miners.

Senior Gretchen Mead pitched a complete game for the Blue Raiders, going six innings and allowing just two runs, only one of which was earned, on three hits and striking out seven batters in the contest.

Middle Tennessee 6 – UTEP 1

After falling in the series opener, the Blue Raiders reset and looked to bounce back during game two against the Miners.

Mealer connected on a single and the Miners knocked a pair of hits in the opening frame, but both sides remained scoreless entering the second inning.

However, it was the Blue Raiders who broke the scoreless stalemate in game two of the day. Sophomore Shelby Sargent got things started by reaching off a single into center field. It didn't take long for the Blue Raiders to take the lead, as Jacoway connected on her fourth pitch of the game, launching her first-career home run over the left field wall to push across two and give the Blue Raiders the opening 2-0 lead.

The Blue Raiders continued to add to their lead in the fourth. Sargent connected on her fifth double of the season with only one down to get the Blue Raiders started. Jacoway then reached on a Miner error to put two on with only one down. Following a strikeout, freshman Abby Shoulders knocked a two-out RBI-single into center field to plate Sargent and extend the Blue Raiders lead to three. After a UTEP pitching change, Mealer then connected on another two-put RBI-single to plate Jacoway and push the Blue Raiders' lead to four, 4-0. Hill then reached on a fielder's choice and a failed UTEP putout at second allowed Shoulders to score and extend the Blue Raiders' lead to five after four, 5-0.

The Miners were able to get one back in the bottom of the fourth. UTEP's Richard knocked a one-out double, before the Miners' Stark drew a four-pitch walk to put two on with two down. UTEP's Favre then connected on a two-out RBI-single up the middle to plate Richard and bring the Miners within four, 5-1.

The Blue Raiders carried their four-run advantage into the seventh. Freshman Anyce Harvey got things started in the seventh with a single to shortstop. Sargent reached on a fielder's choice to first base and a UTEP error allowed Harvey to advance to third to put runners on the corners. After Sargent stole second, Jacoway recorded her third RBI of the contest on a sacrifice fly to center field to push the Blue Raiders lead back to five and the game's eventual final, 6-1.

Jacoway had a career day on Saturday, going 1-for-2 on the day. She connected on her first career home run, in addition to recording a career-high three RBIs and scoring a career-high two runs in the win. Mealer and Sargent posted multi-hit performances, going 2-for-4 each in the contest. Mealer also pushed across an RBI and Sargent scored a pair of runs for the Blue Raiders. Shoulders and Harvey also recorded a hit and an RBI in the contest for the Blue Raiders, going 1-for-3 and 1-for-1 each, respectively.

Senior Corrina Dodd opened up on the mound for the Blue Raiders, allowing just three hits on three innings of work. Sophmore Danielle Taitt earned the win for the Blue Raiders, impriving to 2-2 on the season. Taitt put in four innings of work and allowed just one earned run on six hits in the win.

Up Next
The Blue Raiders will look to capture the series tomorrow as they take on the UTEP Miners for their series finale on Sunday at 1 p.m. CT at Helen of Troy Softball Complex.

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