RICHARDSON, TX (03.22.16) - Junior Brittany Perkins blasted the sixth grand slam home run in UT Dallas softball history in the opening game of the night as the Comets split a non-conference doubleheader with the University of Dallas Tuesday.

The Comets (now 13-12) opened the twin bill with a 6-4 victory before falling in the night cap, 7-5. UTD returns to American Southwest Conference action last this week as the Comets host No. 1-ranked Texas-Tyler for a three game series. The two teams kick off action with a single game at 5 p.m. Thursday before a 1 p.m. doubleheader Friday at the UTD Softball Field.

Game 1 - UTD 6, UD 4
A windy afternoon turned into a windy evening as the two teams combined for three home runs in the Comets' 6-4 win over UD to open the midweek doubleheader.

The guest Lady Crusaders took a 1-0 lead in the 3rd on the first of their two solo homers before UTD exploded for five runs in the bottom of the frame that included Perkins' grand slam. The Comets opened the the bottom half of the 3rd with a Heather Gilbert single, Ravin Wilson walk and a Melissa Livermore infield single to load the bases with no outs. Two batters later, Aly Hudec brought home the tying run with a bases-loaded walk, setting the stage for Perkins. With the count full, Perkins took the 3-2 pitch from UD starter Paige Parks deep to left field, over the trees, for her third long ball of the season and gave the Comets a 5-1 advantage.

After UD cut the lead to 5-3 in the 6th, the Comets added an insurance run in the bottom of that inning as Heather Gilbert scored from third on a fielder's choice.

Allie Stephens (3-2) picked up the win after striking out three batters and giving up just two earned runs. Livermore wsa 2-for-3 from the leadoff spot with two steals while Perkins finished 1-for-4 with four RBI.

Game 2 - UD 7, UTD 5
After falling behind early, the Comets outplayed UD over the final five innings, but left the tying run on second base in the bottom of the 7th as they rally fell short, 7-5.

UD plated three runs in the top of the 1st before the Comets could get on the board when Livermore scored on a dropped fly ball by the Crusader right fielder. However, UD added three more runs in the 2nd to grab a 6-1 advantage.

Down 7-1 in the 5th, the Comets began their rally with two runs in the bottom of the frame. After a leadoff single and steal by Livermore, Chelsea Sartor belted a double off the wall to cut the lead to five runs. A Lauryn Manning single gave UTD runners at the corners before Sartor came home on a sacrifice fly by Perkins. The Comets had another two-run burst in the 7th before the game came to a close. The Comets got the first run of the frame on a Crusader throwing error and then added a second run on a sacrifice fly by Margeaux Petrash.

Livermore would finish the game 3-for-4 with two runs scored and two more steals, giving her 23 stolen bases on the season, three shy of the UTD single-season record.