RICHARDSON, TX (02.22.22) - The UT Dallas softball team improved to 6-1 on the young season Tuesday afternoon with a non-conference doubleheader split against St. Thomas at the UTD Softball Field. The Comets took the opener against UST, 7-4, before falling, 7-2, in game two.

The Comets are now just one victory shy of last season's wins total and will look surpass that mark this weekend during a three-game ASC home series with Hardin-Simmons. The two league foes are currently scheduled to play a 4 p.m. doubleheader Friday before an 11 a.m. single game Saturday to wrap up the season. Due to possible inclement weather, stay tuned for possible schedule changes.

GAME 1 - UTD 7, UST 4
The Comets plated five runs in the bottom of the 1st to erase an early deficit and roll to a 7-4 win over St. Thomas to open Tuesday's twin bill.

Down 2-0 coming to bat for the first time, UTD cut the lead in half with out in the 1st on a Celt error that allowed lead-off hitter Ashley Ambrosy to score from third base. Megan Todd and Cole Johnson then belted back-to-back RBI doubles to lift the Comets to a 3-2 advantage. UTD later pushed runs across in the 1st on a Celeste Soliz single and a McKenzie Cutbirth bases-loaded walk to lift the home team to a 5-2 cushion. 

Sarah Lewis would open the bottom of the 3rd with a solo home run, her first of the year, and Todd added an RBI groundout in the 6th to extend the Comets' lead to 7-2. UST plated two late runs in the top of the 7th, but would not bring the game-tying run to the plate.

Emilie Hoelscher (3-0) had another impressive outing for the Comets in the circle, striking out eight Celt batters in a complete-game performance. Hoelscher allowed four earned runs on nine scattered hits. Johnson closed the game 2-for-4 from the plate while Todd was 1-for-3 with two RBI.

GAME 2 - UST 7, UTD 2
The Comets again gave up two runs in the top of the 1st, but were unable to rally in the late game as UTD dropped a 7-2 decision to St. Thomas to close Tuesday's doubleheader.

Again trailing 2-0 in the bottom of the 1st, the Comets got one run back on a Todd single, scoring Avery Markley. However, the Celts tacked on single runs in the 2nd, 4th and 5th frames to grab a 5-1 lead. UTD collected a second run in the bottom of the 5th on a two-out single up the middle by Johnson, but would leave two runners on base in the inning. UST added two insurance runs in the 7th inning, both coming with two outs.

Johnson, Todd and lead-off hitter Alexia Mullen were each 2-for-3 in the loss for the Comets. Making her first start of the season, Cutbirth (0-1) was handed the loss, giving up three earned runs on five hits in 4.0 innings of work.