RICHARDSON, TX (03.24.16) - The UT Dallas softball team opened a three-game American Southwest Conference series with No. 1-ranked Texas-Tyler Thursday evening with a 4-0 loss to the reigning league champion.

The Comets (now 13-13, 9-7 ASC) will return to the field against UTT Friday in a 12 p.m. doubleheader at the UTD Softball Field. The top-ranked Patriots improved to 21-2 overall (13-0 ASC) after collecting their 16th consecutive victory.

The visiting Patriots opened the scoring in the top of the 1st on a pair of two-out singles, the second of which by Jackie Mendez, scoring Vanessa Carrizales from second base. The Comets threatened each of the first three frames to counter, placing the tying run on third base twice and second base once. UTT then widened its lead in the 4th on back-to-back bases-loaded walks followed by a wild pitch to take a 4-0 lead.

UTD leadoff hitter Melissa Livermore finished the game 3-for-4 with her 24th stolen base of the season, two shy of the program single-season record. Former Comet Amber Griffin stole a school-record 26 bases during the 2008 season. Stefanie Polderman added a 2-for-3 performance, also with a steal, as the Comets out-hit UTT, 7-6, for the game.