SEGUIN, TX (01.30.16) - The new season for the UT Dallas softball team got underway Saturday afternoon as the Comets dropped a pair of close games to 2015 NCAA Division III National Tournament qualifier Texas Lutheran on the road.
UTD dropped the opener to the Bulldogs, 3-1, despite an eight-strikeout performance from starter
Lauren McLeod. The Comets (0-2) took a one-hit shutout and 1-0 lead into the seventh inning of the second game before falling, 2-1.
The Comets open their home schedule next Saturday (Feb. 6) with another non-conference doubleheader against Pacific Lutheran. First pitch for the twin bill is at 2 p.m.
GAME 1 - TLU 3, UTD 1Lauren McLeod (0-1) struck out eight batters while newcomer
Sara Morales went 2-for-3 from the plate with a walk to lead the UTD offense. UTD outhit the host Bulldogs, 6-4.
The Comets scored the first run of the season in the top of the 2nd on an RBI single by
Sara Navarro. Morales opened the frame with a single to left field but was erased on a fielder's choice groundout by
Margeaux Petrash. Petrrash was move to third base on a
Melissa Livermore bunt single followed by a TLU throwing error and came home on Navarro's hit.
However, the host Bulldogs countered with a single run in the 3rd and added a two-run homer in the 5th to seal the victory.Â
McLeod tossed the complete game, scattering four hits and just two walks.Â
GAME 2 - TLU 2, UTD 1Sara Davison (0-1) took a one-hit shutout into the 7th before the Bulldogs (now 2-0) used two walks and three straight singles to rally for a 2-1 win over the Comets in the second game of the doubleheader.
The Comets again struck first as
Stefanie Polderman reached on a two-out infield single, stole second base and scored on double
Melissa Livermore.
Leading 1-0 heading to the bottom of the 7th, Davison got the TLU lead-off hitter to fly out to centerfield before issuing back-to-back walks. Reliever
Tiffany Birdwell took over the circle with one out before giving up three straight singles, including a walk-off single by Gallagher off the left-field wall.
Davison walked seven as she allowed two earned runs in 6.1 innings of work.