Texas Tech University Athletics
Texas Tech Athletics
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UTEP
UTEP Capitalizes on Big Sixth Inning to Sweep Texas Tech
March 11, 2015 | Softball
Brittany Lee connected on her third home run of the season Wednesday afternoon in Texas Tech's 9-7 loss to UTEP.
March 11, 2015
The Red Raiders dropped to 12-14 on the year with the loss while UTEP improved to 8-19 following its fifth-straight win. The Miners previously topped Tech, 5-3, earlier in the opening game of the doubleheader.
Tech went to the bottom of the sixth inning tied with UTEP following a two-out solo home run from Hopson in the top half of the frame. The Miners answered, however, with five runs of their own, all of which that came with two outs.
Ashley Eldridge began UTEP's big inning with a bases-clearing three-run triple to the gap in left center that capped a 2-for-3 day at the plate. She scored immediately after off a Kiki Pepi two-run homer, her second of the day after blasting a solo shot in the opener.
The Red Raiders bounced back with three runs in the seventh off a RBI single from Kierra Miles and a two-run single from Ashley Fultz that brought Hopson back to the plate as the game-winning run.
UTEP reliever Kaitlin Fifield (4-6) was able to force Hopson into a deep fly ball to center field for the final out, giving her the win after three innings of relief where she allowed four runs off five hits and a strikeout.
Hopson joined Fultz and Miles by going 2-for-4 overall at the plate for a Tech offense that totaled 10 hits, four of which that came in the final two innings alone. It marked the fourth time in the past five games where Tech has totaled 10 or more hits.
Lee connected on Tech's other home run with a three-run blast in the fourth that gave the Red Raiders a brief 3-2 lead. It was Lee's third home run already this year in just 26 at-bats.
Similar to Hopson's homer in the sixth, UTEP retook the lead again in the bottom half of the fourth off RBI from Tahia Wade and Kawehiokalani Netane. Tech helped the Miners with its second error of the game midway through the inning, setting up an infield RBI single from Netane.
The final run went unearned to Tech starter Cara Custer (6-8), who suffered the loss in a complete-game effort where she surrendered all nine runs, seven of which that were earned, off 12 hits and a pair of strikeouts.
The Red Raiders return home this weekend, hosting the fifth-annual Jeannine McHaney Memorial Classic. Tech opens the tournament with a 3 p.m. first pitch Friday afternoon against Mississippi Valley State.
