RICHARDSON, TX (02.18.17) - The UT Dallas softball team put the finishing touches on a three-game sweep of American Southwest Conference foe Hardin-Simmons Saturday afternoon, picking up two more "run rule" wins over the Cowgirls, 9-1 and 8-0.

The Comets (10-1, 5-1 ASC) took the series opener Friday in another "run rule" win, 9-1. The Comets put runs on the board in all but the first two innings of Game 2 of Saturday's doubleheader, but still pulled away late with seven runs in the 4th and 5th frames. Leadoff hitter Melissa Livermore was 4-for-6 for the afternoon, scoring twice, driving in two runs and picking up three more stolen bases.

UTD (10-1, 5-1 ASC) travels to provisional ASC member Belhaven for a three-game set next weekend, though those games will not count in the ASC standings.

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

UTD scored in its first four innings and put the Cowgirls (1-7, 0-6) away easily. The only blip was a solo home run by HSU's Keambria Hunter in the 2nd inning, but UTD answered that with seven quick runs to seal the win.

Lauren McLeod improved to a perfect 6-0 on the season with the four-inning start, giving up just three hits and striking out three.

Livermore put the Comets ahead before the Cowgirls could blink. After a leadoff single, she stole second and came home on Hope Griffith's double to left center. Griffith then swiped third, and scored on a double steal play to make it 2-0.

Stephanie Polderman led off the 2nd with UTD's third hit of the game, stole second and came home on a throwing error. Livermore then delivered an RBI single, scoring Heather Gilbert for a 4-1 lead. UTD added two more in the third on Gilbert RBI single and a ground ball out.

Freshmen Kendra Litchfield and Jessica Vlasek started a three-run 4th with one-out hits. A two-RBI hit from Gilbert added two more.

Gilbert was 2-for-3 with three RBI in the game.

GAME 2: UTD 8, HSU 0 (5 inninngs)

A four-run 4th inning broke open a tight game in the series finale with the Cowgirls, making a winner of Allie Stephens (3-0), who gave up just one hit in a five-inning start.

After two scoreless frames to open the game, UTD finally scratched across a run in the 3rd as Kenall Moore led off with a single and scored on a bases-loaded sacrifice fly ball.

The Comets blew the game open, though, with five runs in a 10-batter 4th inning. A third-strike wild pitch to Vlasek and a Perkins infield single opened the inning. Moore then doubled down the left field line, scoring both. Another run scored on a Sarah Morales groundout before Livermore brought home Moore with a double down the line. After a pitching change, UTD loaded the bases and Vlasek drew a walk to bring home the fifth run of the inning.

UTD then added two more in the 5th to end the game. Moore scored again on another error, then Ravin Wilson singled up the midded to bring Gilbert home with the eighth run. 

Moore and Livermore each had a pair of hits, scoring a combined four runs with three RBI.