TYLER, TX (05.01.16) - One of the best seasons in program history came to an end Sunday afternoon when the UT Dallas softball team was handed a close 2-1 loss to No. 1-ranked Texas-Tyler in the semifinals of the American Southwest Conference Championship Tournament.
The Comets had their historic season come to a close with a 25-20 overall record, matching the most wins in school history in the process, after winning three games at the ASC Tournament for the first time ever.
UTD out-hit the top-ranked Patriots, 4-3, in the contest including the biggest hit of the afternoon, a solo home run by sophomore
Heather Gilbert to lead off the Comets' 3rd inning, the first long ball of her career. However, UTT answered with two of its three hits in the 4th inning, scoring both the Patriots' runs.
The Comets threatened to regain the advantage in both the 4th and 5th innings, putting the go-ahead runner on second base in both frames, but UTT ace Kelsie Batten was able to get out of both jams. UTD would leave five runners on base over the final four innings of play.
Freshman
Allie Stephens limited the Patriots to just two hits in 6.1 innings of work in the circle for the Comets in another late-season strong performance. Junior
Sara Davison took over for Stephens with one out in the 7th and got out of a bases-loaded situation to keep UTD within a run. Sophomore
Stefanie Polderman finished the game 2-for-3 while both Gilbert and senior
Taylor Ervin both went 1-for-3 from the plate.
"To go out and play the No. 1 team in the country, and start our freshman pitcher, we gave it our best shot," first-year UTD coach
Rich Wieligman said afterwards. "To have Allie go out there and throw the game she threw was amazing. We played with our heart and soul the entire tournament, and we had our chances. You couldn't ask for anything more from this team."
The third-seeded Comets entered the postseason winless in the ASC Tournament since the 2005 season and picked up their first tournament win in 11 seasons with a 6-5, 11-inning marathon victory over Louisiana College in their opener. After a tough 8-5 loss to No. 17-ranked East Texas Baptist in the second round, UTD battled through two elimination games to get to the semifinals. The Comets held off LeTourneau, 8-6, in a game that spanned two days due to weather and then moved on with a 6-4, eight-inning affair late Saturday night to advance to Sunday's meeting with UTT. Comets
Melissa Livermore and
Kendall Moore were named to the All-Tournament Team at the conclusion of the event.
"As far as the season goes," Wieligman continued, "it was a fun year and the girls did a great job. This team was all about family and unselfish play. I couldn't be prouder of the resilience of this team and their love for one another. And, I appreciate the leadership and loyalty that all our seniors showed. They will be missed."
