Middle Tennessee Softball drops series finale at UTEP

Sunday, April 24

El Paso, TX

1:00 PM

Middle Tennessee

19-28, 6-12

UTEP

14-29, 4-14

Middle Tennessee

UTEP

4/24/2022 5:49:00 PM | Softball

Box Score

By: Jonathan Caudle, MT Athletic Communications

EL PASO, Texas – The Blue Raiders (19-28, 6-12 C-USA) came up just short on Sunday in their series finale against the UTEP Miners (14-29, 4-14 C-USA) at Helen of Troy Softball Complex.

After a scoreless opening inning, the Miners got things started in the second. UTEP's Anna Sample hit a one-out double, before an RBI-double from Cheyenne Stark pushed across the first run of the game, 1-0. The Miners' Savannah Favre then connected on an RBI-single to plate Stark from second and push the Miners' lead to two, 2-0.

In the second, freshman Laura Mealer got things started for the Blue Raiders on a two-out single to left field. Junior Kelci Hill then followed Mealer, reaching on a Miner error, which gave Mealer just enough time to beat the throw home and get the Blue Raiders on the board, 2-1.

With one down in the fifth, Mealer connected on her second hit of the day to send a single into right field and get one aboard. Hill followed Mealer with her second hit of the day, knocking an RBI-double, her eighth double of the season, into left center to bring Mealer all the way around from first and bring the Blue Raiders even at two, 2-2. After a flyout put two down, freshman Anyce Harvey produced a much needed at-bar, connecting on her team-leading 28^th RBI of the season as she sent an RBI-single into left field to bring across Hill from second and give the Blue Raiders their first lead of the contest, 3-2.

The Blue Raiders maintained their one-run lead into the seventh inning, looking to seal the deal with three outs to go. UTEP's Stark led off the bottom of the seventh drawing a five-pitch walk. The Miners' Jordyn Lopez came in to pinch run for Stark before Favre connected on a single into center field to put two Miners on with no one out. A fielder's choice then put UTEP runners on the corners with one down. UTEP's Pate Cathey then hit an RBI-double into left field to plate Lopez and bring the contest even once more at 3-3 with two Miners still on. The Blue Raiders went to the bullpen to bring in senior Corrina Dodd to close things out, but the Miners connected on one more RBI-single from Ajia Richard as UTEP ended things in the seventh to take the 4-3 series finale.

Mealer and Harvey led the Blue Raiders in the contest, going 3-for-4 each. Mealer tied her career-high for the sixth time this season, scoring a pair of runs, while Harvey tallied an RBI in the contest. Hill also had a good day at the plate, going 2-for-4 and recording an RBI and a run against the Miners.

Senior Gretchen Mead pitched 6.1 innings on the day, allowing four runs on seven hits and striking out four batters. Dodd relieved Mead, allowing just one hit in the series finale.

Up Next
The Blue Raiders return home next weekend as they host the LA Tech Lady Techsters for our last home series of the regular season.

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