The UTEP softball team was looking for its first series victory in seven weeks last Sunday against Middle Tennessee and the Miners had reached winning time — bottom of the seventh, tie game, one out, runners on second and third.
What's more, UTEP had a player it wanted at bat. Up came freshman shortstop Ajia Richard, an 18-year-old one year removed from Silver High in New Mexico.
If there's a moment when a true freshman is no longer figuratively a freshman, when they've gone from the new kid to a position of trust, Richard arrived there months ago.