Freshman Camille Herrera is congratulated by Co-head coach Kathleen Rodriguez after hitting a homerun in the bottom of the third inning Sunday afternoon at the Helen of Troy Softball Complex. (Image: Jeff Taylor)

EL PASO, Texas – Sometimes there really isn’t enough time to complete a game.

That was the case Sunday afternoon as UTEP was forced to cut their third game with Memphis short because of an imposed two and a half hour time limit as a result of travel plans.

It proved to be detrimental as the Miners (15-18, 1-5 C-USA) lost to the Tigers (21-7-6-3 C-USA) 15-6 in five and a half innings of play.

In contrast to Saturday’s games where UTEP looked mentally out of the game after falling behind, Sunday was different in that the team appeared to play with more hustle and desire.

The game started a bit rocky as senior Courtney Auger started but was pulled after giving up two early homeruns and allowing three Tigers to score in the first inning. She was pulled in favor of freshman Laura Ramos who worked two innings, but gave up five runs. UTEP was behind 8-2 after three innings when Joanna Krienitz came in to the circle. She helped stop the bleeding somewhat allowing two runs in the fourth and fifth innings as the Miners began to rally.

Utilizing a methodical attack, getting base hits and moving runners from base to base, UTEP was able to narrow the deficit by posting a total of four runs in the bottom of the fourth and fifth innings. Going into the top of the sixth, the Miners were down four runs and looked to have a shot at completing the comeback.

But time was ticking and the Miners began to push, which led to mistakes. Krienitz missed some of her pitches and ended up giving up five runs, including a grand slam, to Memphis. Without and notice, the game was over before UTEP even had a chance to finish the inning as the umpire called time.

Fans in attendance looked shocked and bewildered as the Miners glanced at the umpire with a pleading look for more time but the clock had passed the two and a half hour limit.

Game over.

“When (Memphis first basemen Jessica Phillips) hit it out, we were rushing with her. We were just trying to get out of the inning,” co-head coach Kathleen Rodriguez said.

What might have been even more difficult to swallow was the batting order the Miners would have had in the bottom of the sixth.

“We had the top of our order up and not one kid in our dugout had given up. We had (Chelsea) Troupe to lead off the bottom of the sixth. What more could you want?” Rodriguez said.

Continuing the pattern from Saturday, Memphis was aided by the Miner pitching staff as they accrued ten walks on the day and another batter was hit by a pitch. UTEP gave up 14 hits on in 40 batters faced with all 15 Memphis runs being earned.

Rodriguez, clearly bothered by the number of free passes, emphasized how painful the walks were.

“You cannot, cannot, give out 10 walks and a hit-by-pitch,” Rodriguez said. “You just can’t give up 11 outs.”

UTEP will have an opportunity to get another win and move back towards .500 on Tuesday when they face the University of New Mexico at the Helen of Troy Softball Complex in a doubleheader. First pitch is scheduled for 1 pm.