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UTEP hits three home runs, including grand slam as Aggies fall 8-4.
Source: NMSU Athletics
Story By Matthew Knope
Photo By Emilio Garcia for NMSU: Courtesy
EL PASO, Texas – The first game in the 2025 Battle of I-10 took place in El Paso on Friday. NM State Softball came up short, allowing three home runs as UTEP prevailed 8-4. A fifth-inning grand slam broke the game open and the Aggies’ comeback proved to be too little and too late. The loss dropped the Crimson & White to 21-15 overall with an 8-5 mark in CUSA play.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The home fans awoke early in the first inning after a walk and an infield hit put two Miners on base with just one out. On the first pitch of Iliana Munoz’s at-bat, she put UTEP in front 3-0 with a right-field home run. However, Spearman escaped the inning without any further damage as she tallied three punch outs in the opening frame.
In the second, the Aggies faced an even more daunting jam, as the Miners loaded the bases with no outs. After back-to-back force outs at home plate, Tamara Carranza made a leaping catch at shortstop to head into the third inning unscathed.
In the bottom of the third inning, the home team tacked on one more run with a solo shot to left field. In the ensuing frame, NM State cut the deficit in half, though. On the first pitch of the stanza, Kristiana Watson doubled to center field, reaching scoring position. After a groundout advanced her to third, a fielding error in the outfield brought Watson home and sent Carranza to second base. The inning’s second groundout moved the freshman within 60 feet of home plate. Riley Carley sent a ball back up the middle for a two-out RBI single, cutting the margin to 4-2.
In the bottom of the fifth, UTEP opened up the game with a two-out grand slam, pulling ahead 8-2.
Riley Carley’s second hit of the game was followed up by a Kendal Lunar double, before Kathy Rodolph placed two pinch runners in scoring position. Devin Elam came through with a two-out double that brought Bella Clapp and Joleeanna Hair home, cutting the road team’s deficit to 8-4. However, a flyout to right field six pitches later concluded the game as UTEP clinched a series-opening victory.
NUMBERS OF NOTE
- NM State dropped into a tie for third place in the CUSA standings at 8-5 alongside FIU.
- The Aggies had allowed seven runs in their past five outings before giving up eight on Friday.
- NM State fell to 42-15 all-time in matchups with the Miners, holding a 16-11 mark in El Paso.
- The Aggies are now 0-11 when allowing eight or more runs this season.
- Desirae Spearman still holds the longest active hitting streak on the team, recording a knock in 11 straight games and reaching base safely in 12 straight.
- NM State failed to draw a walk for the fourth time this season.
- Jade Valladares tallied her third start of the season at third base.
- For the eighth straight contest, Desirae Spearman was the leadoff batter for Kathy Rodolph‘s offense.
- NM State fell to 6-10 when its opponents scored in the opening inning and 8-11 when opponents scored first overall.
- Friday’s game was NM State’s first time allowing three home runs in one CUSA game this season, and its fifth overall instance of 2025.
FROM THE FIELD
Head Coach Kathy Rodolph, on the loss: “I feel like it was an extreme rivalry game, and I feel like [UTEP] came out punching first. We need to be able to manage our moments and not let them get too big while just staying pitch-by-pitch. I expect that we will come back here tomorrow with a clear understanding of what the battle is going to be about.”
UP NEXT
The midway point of the Borderlands rivalry will take place at the same time tomorrow, with Saturday’s first pitch set for 6:00 p.m., MT. NM State has its eyes on evening up the weekend clash at a game apiece while the hosts aim to take the series victory. All the action will be streamed live on ESPN+ and available to follow via nmstatesports.com.
For complete coverage of NM State Softball during the 2025 season, visit NMStateSports.com – the official home of the Aggies – and follow the Aggies on Facebook (NM State Softball), Twitter (@NMStateSoftball) and Instagram (@NMStateSoftball).
