RICHARDSON, TX (02.13.16) - Junior right-hander Lauren McLeod recorded the fifth no-hitter in UT Dallas softball history Saturday afternoon, leading the way for the UTD softball team to complete a four-game sweep over Sul Ross State.

UTD rolled to a 9-0 win behind McLeod, then evened their season record at 4-4 with a 21-2 thumping in the final game of the four-game set. The Comets (4-4, 3-0 in American Southwest Conference) opened the series with a 3-0 and 5-0 shutouts over the Lobos Friday. The sweep opened the season for SRSU (0-4, 0-3 ASC).

Both Saturday games were shortened to just five innings by the ASC "run rule." Coach Rich Wieligman was able to empty the bench, gaining playing time for nearly the complete roster.

Senior catcher Aly Hudec homered for the Comets in both games Saturday, finishing the afternoon with five RBI. Leadoff hitter Melissa Livermore collected four hits and a pair of stolen bases.

POST-GAME INTERVIEW: McLEOD & HUDEC

The Comets return to the road next weekend with a three-game ASC series at Hardin-Simmons in Abilene.

GAME 1: UTD 9, SRSU 0 (5 innings)

McLeod was the story, striking out five in a game and working around one walk and a pair of errors. A double play wiped out the batter who reached on a walk to open the game, then McLeod coaxed a foul popup for the final out in the 2nd after the leadoff hitter reached on an error. SRSU's only other baserunner was eliminated trying to steal second base in the 4th.

The Comets gave the junior hurler all the support she needed, putting four runs on the board in the 1st and 3rd innings. Livermore opened the game with a hit in the 1st and was around the bases on a grounout and wild pitch before Hudec delivered her first long ball of the day. A walk, a SRSU error and two more singles put UTD up, 4-0. Heather Gilbert added the first of her two hits in the game, scoring on a groundout in the 2nd. A pair of doubles from Sara Navarro and Gilbert drove home three of the team's four runs in the 4th.

GAME 1: UTD 21, SRSU 2 (5 innings)

After SRSU posted a pair of runs to open the game, the Comets answered with a vengeance, scoring 10 runs in their half of the 1st inning and finishing the day with a 21-hit assault. UTD also benefitted from four Lobo errors and ran wild, forcing the defense with aggressive baserunning.

After the brief sluggish start, Sara Davison picked up her first win of the season, striking out the side in the 1st and giving up just one more hit the rest of the way. She finished with seven strikeout and allowed just one earned run to improve to 1-2. 

Seven of the first nine Comets reached base in the 10-run first inning with Hudec accounting for three RBI. After Livermore reached on a bunt single and stole second to open the inning, Hudec drove her home with a single for the first run of the frame, then launched her second home run of the day after five more hits and a walk. The Comets added a pair of runs in both the 2nd and 3rd with Margeaux Petrash and Samantha Halliburton driving in runs.

UTD then erased any doubt with seven more runs in their half of the 4th, utilzing seven hits (three for extra bases) and two more SRSU errors.