Ashley Collazo makes a throw to first base against Southern Miss. (Image: Jeff Taylor)

HOUSTON, Texas – The UTEP softball team took an early 2-0 lead only to have UCF rally for a 4-2 victory in the opening round of the 2010 Conference USA Softball Championship at the Cougar Softball Complex Thursday afternoon.
 
The setback brings the 2010 campaign to a close for the Miners (31-24), while the Knights (34-20) advance to face Memphis in a semifinal contest on Friday. The loss also marks the end of the illustrious careers of UTEP seniors Kelly Curran, Ashley Ellis and Stacie Townsend.
 
The trio has guided UTEP to a pair of 30-win seasons, two no hitters and six victories against ranked opponents since arriving on campus four years ago. They have combined to receive four all-conference awards, six player of week distinctions (one national, five conference), while setting numerous season and career records at the school.
 
The Miners jumped out to the aforementioned 2-0 advantage, with a lead-off single by Kayla Oranger followed by an intentional walk to first-team all conference honoree Camilla Carrera setting the stage in the top half of the first.  Chelsea Troupe laced a single to plate Oranger. With runners on the corners, Ellis drove home Carrera to make it 2-0.
 
UCF answered back in the bottom of the frame with Abby McClain belting a three-run long ball to give it a lead it would never relinquish. Townsend settled in nicely from the point on, retiring the final two hitters of the inning without incident. In fact she would permit only one hit the rest of the way out while punching out seven of her eight in the game, but the damage had been done.
 
The Knights tacked on another run in the bottom of the third, with UTEP giving them more help then they needed. After Townsend dispatched Natalie Land, UCF’s Hillary Barrow made it all the way to second base after a throwing error on a grounder to third. Barrow ultimately scored the unearned insurance run after a wild sequence on a double steal.
 
The Miners, who out-hit UCF 4-3, tried to rally but could not get their offense going again against UCF hurler Ashleigh Cole.
 
UTEP’s best chance was also its last. In the top half of the seventh, Kia Moore earned a lead-off walk but Cole quickly regained her composure. She got Courtney Ware to pop out to short and then induced Kelynn Fyre into a game-ending double-play.