Chelsea Troupe watches the first of her two home runs sail over the centerfield fence during the Miners' 12-4 win over Marist at Helen of Troy Field Friday. (Image: Brian Kanof)

EL PASO, Texas – The UTEP women’s softball team showed its powerful offense along with its inconsistencies during their first two games against Marist College. The Miners won the first game 12-4 but dropped the second one, 5-1, at the Helen of Troy Complex.

The Miners (13-13, 1-2 C-USA) displayed their offense in the first game by knocking in 12 runs on 14 hits; three of those hits came via a home run. Junior Chelsea Troupe went 3-4 with two home runs and three RBIs while freshman Camille Herrera went 1-3 with a home run and one RBI.

Sophomore Kayleigh Walts went 2-4 with one RBI and two runs scored in the first game. Junior Courtney Auger gained the victory improving her record to 6-6 on the year.

Despite winning the first game and having the momentum going into the second game of the double header, UTEP came out flat and could not overcome a 3-1 deficit before falling 5-1 to the Red Foxes.

Marist College (11-10) made the proper adjustments to slow down UTEP in game two. The Red Foxes were able to add two insurance runs in the sixth inning to put the game out of the reach for the Miners.

The inability of the Miners to keep their momentum going from game to game has frustrated Head Coach Kathleen Rodriguez throughout the season.

“The bottom line is, if you play ball, you are suppose to play and respect the game every day,” Rodriguez said. “We didn’t respect the game; that is why we lost. We didn’t do what we needed to for the 21 outs that we were given.”

Even though the Miners lost the second game, they hit the ball hard. Yet, the balls just didn’t fall. Rodriguez was somewhat pleased with how Miners played in the second game, but she knows her team has to give themselves a chance to win in every single game.

“We put the ball in play I think pretty well on a few hits,” Rodriguez said. “Kia got a hold of that one and that kid just ended up being against the fence when it was hit. Kayleigh waited back on that change-up and hit it pretty well and that right fielder made a good play on that.”

To Rodriguez there is no reason to make excuses as to why UTEP just didn’t get the job done in game two.

“There is absolutely no excuse,” Rodriguez said. “We have to make our own breaks and that’s the bottom line. That is putting the ball in play and doing what we need to. Sitting there and watching pitches go by; that is not going to happen when they do that.”

Freshman pitcher Megan Atchison started the second game, but she didn’t have her usual stuff in the circle. She suffered the loss and dropped to 3-4 on the year. Atchison just didn’t bring her A-game, and she felt that from the very beginning.

“I don’t think I came out ready like I usually do,” Atchison said. “I wasn’t pitching like I usually do, and I have to come back better tomorrow.”

Despite only giving up one run, striking out seven and only walking two batters before the sixth inning, Atchison just didn’t feel comfortable all game.

“I felt like I wasn’t in the zone like I usually am in,” Atchison said. “I didn’t feel like I was hitting my spots like I usually do.”

Walts noticed the inconsistencies of the team as well. She knows that if this team is going to have any success the rest of the season, they have to have a short term memory when it comes to bad at bats and bad plays made on the field.

“We just have to stay up with our energy level,” Walts said. “Whenever our energy is really up like in the first game, we hit the ball really well and we do everything great. Our energy got a little low at the start of the second game, but towards the end, you could see that it showed up again and we started fighting back, but it was a little too late.”

The Miners do not have to wait long to take the field again as they have two more games tomorrow against the Red Foxes. The team will have an opportunity to get two big wins in preparation for their game against Nebraska on Tuesday.