BELTON, TX (03.20.15) - The UT Dallas softball team was handed three closes loses as the Comets were swept in an American Southwest Conference three-game series by Mary Hardin-Baylor.

The Comets (now 10-8, 6-8 ASC) dropped both ends of a doubleheader Thursday, 5-3 and 3-1, before falling in the series finale Friday, 4-3. UTD returns to action Tuesday with a 5 p.m. non-conference home doubleheader with Wisconsin-Eau Claire.

GAME 1 (THURSDAY) - UMHB 5, UTD 3
After two back-breaking home runs by the host Cru in the 6th inning, the UT Dallas softball team was handed a 5-3 loss by Mary Hardin-Baylor Thursday afternoon to open an American Southwest Conference three-game series.

The Comets led 3-2 heading into the home half of the 6th before UMHB's Leah Brown and Myranda Hinojosa belted long balls to steal away the victory. UTD senior outfielder Avery McHugh opened the game with a home run and then collected her 39th career double in the 3rd, breaking the program mark for career two-baggers. McHugh finished the game 2-for-4 with an RBI and two runs scored.

McHugh blasted her third homer of the season to open the top of the 1st for the Comets and then led off the 3rd inning with her record-breaking double. After a UMHB error on a sacrifice bunt by Chelsea Sartor, McHugh came home on a passed ball, doubling the UTD lead to 2-0. Aly Hudec then singled in Sartor to lift the Comets to a 3-0 cushion.

In the bottom of the 3rd, the Cru got on the board on a two-run double by Karley Free, but UTD maintained the lead, 3-2. After two scoreless frames, Brown gave the Cru their first lead of the game with a two-run shot with one out in the sixth and Hinojosa's homer two batters later sealed the victory. UTD went down in order in the top of the 7th.

Sara Davison (5-4) suffered the loss, giving up five runs on seven hits in 5.2 innings of work. Davison struck out one and walked two, both in the first three innings of the game. Megan Aragones relieved Davison in the 6th after UMHB homers and recorded the final out of the frame.

GAME 2 (THURSDAY) - UMHB 3, UTD 1
The host Cru posted two runs in the bottom of the 1st and never trailed as they completed the doubleheader sweep of UTD with a 3-1 victory.

UMHB opened the scoring with an RBI triple by Free in the 1st and Brown later doubled the Cru's lead to 2-0 with a single, scoring Free. The Cru added a run in the 3rd on a solo homer by Free to grab a 3-0 advantage.

The Comets got on the board in the top of the 6th with a bases-loaded pinch-hit single by Maddie Edwards, scoring Taylor Ervin. However, UTD would leave the go-ahead runs on base after a pair of ground outs to end the inning. McHugh led off the top of the 7th with a single, bringing the tying run to the plate, however the Cru defense stepped up as shortstop Hinojosa snagged a liner by Sartor and doubled up McHugh off first base.

Lauren McLeod tossed a complete game, giving up three runs on seven hits. McLeod stuck out two and did not issue a walk. McHugh finished 3-for-4, collecting three of the Comets' eight hits.

GAME 3 (FRIDAY) - UMHB 4, UTD 3
The Comets jumped out to an early 2-0 lead but could not hold on as UMHB rallied for a 4-3 win to close out the sweep.

UTD plated pair of runs on a Margeaux Petrash double in the 2nd to take the lead, but the Cru responded with three-run homer by Kelsey Vann in the bottom of the frame. The Comets knotted the game, 3-3, in the next frame, taking advantage a UMHB error on a Jonelle Feikis ground ball, allowing Jordan Bratcher to score from third. However, the Cru regained the lead in the 5th with a solo home run by Brown.

McLeod (5-4) was handed her second loss of the series, giving up three earned runs on five hits in 5.0 innings in the circle. McLeod struck out four but walked three. Aragones tossed a scoreless 6th with two walks. Morgan Anderson was the only Comet to record multiple hits as she finished the game 2-for-2.