SEGUIN, TX (03.16.18) - UT Dallas junior second baseman
Melissa Livermore became the American Southwest Conference's all-time stolen base leader Friday afternoon as the Comets wrapped up their Spring Break road trip with a split with La Verne. The Comets dropped the opener, 6-5, but bounced back for an 8-3 win in game two.
A native of Frisco, Livermore's record-breaking steal came in the 6th inning of the second game against La Verne, giving her 122 swipes in her three-year career. The previous ASC career mark of 121 steals was set by East Texas Baptist's Lindsey Vasquez last spring. A two-time All-American for the Comets, Livermore also holds the ASC's single-season steals record with 56 swipes as a freshman in 2016.
GAME 1 - LA VERNE 6, UTD 5
In a back-and-forth affair to open Friday's twin bil, La Verne would hold on for a 6-5 win over the Comets in the first game of the day.
The Leopards opened the scoring with three runs in the 1st, but the Comets responded with four runs in the top of the 2nd and one more in the 3rd to take a 5-3 lead. However, ULV plated a run in the bottom of the 3rd and two more in the 4th, including the game-winner.
Down 3-0 in the top of the 2nd, UTD got on the scoreboard thanks to a Leopard error, allowing
Lauryn Manning to score, and then added an RBI triple by
Ravin Wilson and an RBI single by Livermore to knot the game, 3-3. The Comets then scored a second in the inning on a ULV error as Livermore came home on a two-out miscue to put the Comets up 4-3.
In the 3rd, UTD extended its lead to 5-3 with a bases-loaded RBI single by Wilson, scoring
Hope Griffith.
Allie Stephens (2-3) suffered the loss, giving up four earned runs on eight hits with two strikeouts in 4.0 innings of work. Griffith, Manning and Wilson were each 2-for-3 while
Elizabeth Brann was 2-for-4.
GAME 2 - UTD 8, LA VERNE 3
The Comets exploded with five runs in the 5th to break open a tie game and held on for an 8-3 win over La Verne in the second game of the day.
UTD opened the scoring in the 3rd with a Livermore infield single that allowed
Kendra Litchfield to score from second base. But, the Leopards countered with a run in the top of the 4th to tie the game, 1-1.
In the 5th, Livermore started the rally with a bunt single and then stole second base, her second swipe of the game which tied the ASC record. After a ULV error that put Comets on the corners, UTD broke the tie with a sac bunt by
Stefanie Polderman, scoring Livermore. Griffith then walked to load the bases, allowing Amber William to blow open the game with a three-run triple. UTD added an RBI infield single by Manning, scoring Williams, to give the Comets a 6-1 advantage.
The Comets then added two more runs in the 6th inning as Livermore broke the ASC steals record. With one out, Livermore picked up her fourth hit of the game and quickly stole second base for her 122nd of her career. She would later score on a wild pitch and Williams added an RBI single to push the Comets lead to 8-1.
ULV (12-6) plated two runs in the top of the 7th.
Livermore was 4-for-4 with two runs scored, and RBI and three steals in the victory. Williams finished 2-for-4 with four RBI.
Karen Crane (5-4) tossed the full 7.0 innings, giving up three earned runs on seven hits and two walks.
NEXT GAME
The Comets (7-10) will return to action March 23-24, when they travel to to Ozarks for a three-game ASC series.
