RICHARDSON, TX (02.28.22) - The UT Dallas softball team finished off a bounce back against Hardin-Simmons by taking the rubber game of an ASC series over the Cowgirls, 5-4, Monday afternoon at the UTD Softball Field.

The two teams had split a series-opening doubleheader Sunday evening - HSU taking the opener, 12-1; then the Comets rallying for a walk-off 5-4 win in the nightcap.

On Monday, designated player Sarah Lewis sparked a three-run comeback in the 5th inning with a two-run single as the Comets (8-2 overall) overcame a 3-1 deficit and improved to 5-1 in conference play. HSU (9-5) fell to 7-5 in the ASC. The Comets have now surpassed their overall win total from a year ago (7) and match their ASC wins (5) from 2021.

Down 3-1 early after HSU had solo home runs from Sarah Diessner and Mason McCord, UTD got a rally going with walks to Avery Markley and Megan Todd before freshman Cole Johnson singled to center field to bring UTD to within a run at 3-2. Lewis then stepped up with runners at second and third base, and drilled a shot to center field that brought Todd and Johnson home and gave UTD a 4-3 advantage.  The Comets made it 5-3 in the 6th when Alexia Mullen then reached on an error to open the inning and scored an insurance run on a Markley single to cushion the lead. HSU quashed what could have been an even bigger inning for UTD, though, forcing two runners out at the plate and getting out of a bases-loaded jam.

The Cowgirls (9-5, 7-5 ASC) got their third home run of the game - this time from Faith Fernandez - to cut the lead to down to one (5-4) in their final at-bat, but reliever Emilie Hoelscher shut the door for her fourth win of the season.

Ashley Ambrosy and Mullen accounted for five of the Comets' 11 hits.

After a 10-game home stand to open the season, the Comets take to the road for the first time this season, traveling to Concordia Texas in Austin this weekend for a three-game ASC series.