RICHARDSON, TX (02.17.17) - The UT Dallas softball team continued its hot start to the new season Friday afternoon with a 9-1, five-inning win over Hardin-Simmons to open a three-game American Southwest Conference weekend series.

The Comets improved to 8-1 overall and 3-1 in ASC play with the win and will close the set with HSU with a 12 p.m. doubleheader Saturday at the UTD Softball Field.

UTD scored three runs in each of the first two innings and capped the win with a two-run fifth as the Comets collected their second run-rule victory of the season. Lauren McLeod improved to 5-0 as she struck out five and gave up just an unearned run in a complete-game performance.

The Comets opened the scoring in the 1st frame with a one-out single up the middle by Jessica Vlasek, scoring Melissa Livermore. Kendra Litchfield then launched her second home run of the season to lift UTD to a quick 3-0 advantage. UTD added its first two runs in the 2nd on a Cowgirl throwing error on a Heather Gilbert sacrifice bunt. With Kendall Moore on second, Gilbert bunted to advance her teammate and the HSU third baseman sailed the ball to the right field wall, allowing both Moore and the batter Gilbert to score. The Comets added a run on a two-out infield single by Brittany Perkins, scoring Livermore.

The Cowgirls (1-5, 0-4 ASC) plated their lone run in the top of the 3rd to draw back within a run, 6-1, but UTD answered with a run in the bottom of the frame before ending the contest with a two-run 5th. UTD scored in the bottom of the 3rd when Polderman doubled, stole third and scored on a Moore ground ball. The Comets' first run in the 5th came on a Moore double off the wall, scoring Litchfield, and the game ended on a sacrifice fly by pinch-hitter Sarah Morales, scoring Polderman.

Litchfield finished the game 2-for-3 with two runs scored and two RBI while Polderman was also 2-for-3 with two runs scored. Moore was 1-for-2 with two RBI and a run scored.