EL PASO, TEXAS – The University of the Incarnate Word softball team will open the 2016 campaign on the road at UTEP on Thursday in a doubleheader starting at 3 p.m. local time at Helen of Troy Field.

The Cardinals are under the direction of fourth-year head coach Mandee Gamboa and they return seven starters from last year's team that was 12-39.  UIW struggled on the road last year winning just two of 21 games and they will try to reverse that trend against the Miners.  The top returning offensive players for the team are senior third baseman Shelbi Swenson (Elgin/Elgin HS) and junior outfielder Danielle Ramirez (San Antonio/Marshall HS).  Swenson hit .319 with four homers and 16 RBI's while Ramirez had a .315 batting average and stole eight bases in 2015.  Junior Kristin Hebert (Humble/Atascocita HS) is the top returning pitcher.  She tossed 155.2 innings last year with a 4.72 earned run average and a 5-19 record.

UTEP is under the direction of third-year head coach Tobin Echo-Hawk and they are led by Conference USA Softball Preseason first team selection Kawehiokalani Netane.  The Miners finished last season 14-39 although they were 11-7 at home.  Kawehiokalani hit .357 with eight home runs and 32 RBI's.

The Miners have won all three previous meetings between the two teams which all took place last season.
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