SHERMAN, TX (02.25.12) - The UT Dallas softball team scored eight unanswered runs Saturday afternoon as the Comets rallied for an 8-3 road win over Austin College to open a non-conference doubleheader, but fell, 4-3, to the 'Roos in the nightcap.

The Comets (now 4-4) return to action next weekend as they play in the American Southwest Conference First Pitch Tournament at Oran Good Park in Farmers Branch. UTD will face Sul Ross State and Howard Payne Friday, then play Schreiner and Mary Hardin-Baylor Saturday. UTD is planning of providing videocasts of all four tournament games.

Trailing 3-0 late, the Comets scored three runs in the sixth and five more in the seventh to complete the come-from-behind win over Austin College, 8-3.

Brittanie Knowles led off the sixth inning for UTD with a single and advanced to second on an error by the AC leftfielder. Knowles then scored from second base on another 'Roo error on an Avery McHugh grounder to cut the Comets' deficit to 3-1. Rachel Riley later tied the game, 3-3, with a two-run single to right field scoring McHugh and Stephanie Harris.

The Comets took the lead, 4-3, with no outs in the seventh on an RBI double by Hannah Creech, scoring Jordan Bratcher from third. Three batters later McHugh gave UTD a 6-3 advantage with a two-run double to center field, scoring Creech and Knowles. The Comets added their final run later in the frame when Megan Aragones scored from second on AC error.

Knowles finished the game 3-for-3 with two runs scored while Riley was 2-for-4 with a pair of RBI. The 'Roos committed six errors, leading to five unearned runs by UTD.

Heather Foust (3-1) picked up her third win of the young season, scattering four hits in 6.0 innings of work. Foust struck out eight hitters and issued two walks.

GAME 2 - Austin College 4, UTD 3  BOX SCORE
In the late game, the Comets didn't wait as long to score but could not keep AC down later in the game as UTD fell, 4-3, to the 'Roos to split the doubleheader.

AC (now 2-2) struck first in the bottom of the second on a sacrifice fly, but the Comets answered with two runs in the next frame to grab an early 2-1 lead. Knowles knotted the game with a single through the left side, scoring Jacqueline Rosson from third. Knowles would steal second and score on a McHugh single.

The 'Roos countered in the fourth with two runs, taking back a 3-2 lead before UTD tied the game again in the fifth with RBI single by Knowles, scoring Creech from second. However, AC finished the scoring in the bottom of the fifth with an RBI groundout by Mallory Rossman.

Alyssa Fincher (0-3) was handed the loss as the pitched the final 2.1 innings in relief of starter Micah Starkey. Fincher did not give up a hit, but gave up an earned run after a walk in the fifth. Starkey gave up three runs, one earned, on four hits in 3.2 innings in the circle. Knowles finished the second game 3-for-3 as well with two RBI and a run scored.