RICHARDSON, Texas - The UT Dallas softball team started American Southwest Conference play with a double-header split against McMurry at UTD Softball Field Friday.

The Comets (3-5, 1-1 ASC) won the opener 2-0 in a pitcher's duel while the War Hawks (6-2, 1-1 ASC) took the game two 10-2 in six innings.

Game 1
Junior McKenzie Cutbirth (1-0) threw a three-hit shutout, striking out seven to earn her first victory of the season. She pitched four three-up, three-down frames, including the fourth where she fanned all three batters.

McMurry's Jenna Lewis (2-1) held UTD scoreless until the sixth inning. Senior designated player Alexia Mullen led off with a single to left and Claire Pollack was hit by a pitch to put two on with no outs. After a ground out, advancing both runners into scoring position, Cadence Hernandez hit a ground ball to second and the War Hawks threw home, but missed the tag on Mullen for the first run of the game. Center fielder Cole Johnson followed with a base hit through the right side, plating Pollack to make the game 2-0.

Game 2
The Comets took a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first on a Hernandez two-run single up the middle that scored Pollack and Addison Caddell. The War Hawks answered with four runs on three hits and an error in the second on a two-run homer from Trista Brown and  a two-run double from second baseman Jade Dickens.

Brown hit a solo shot off the left field foul pole in the third to give McMurry a 5-2 advantage. They added five runs on four hits and a pair of walks in the sixth.

UT Dallas Notes
- Cutbirth threw her second career shutout. She has throw nine consecutive scoreless innings with 13 strikeouts.
- Mullen was 2-for-3 with a run scored and two stolen bases in game one. She 8-for-8 in steal attempts this season.
- Caddell hit her first double of the season in the opener.
- Second baseman MiKayla Hoffman had a double in game one and is tied for the team lead with three.
- Hernandez went 3-for-3 with two RBI in game two.
- Senior catcher Celeste Soliz was also 3-for-3 in the nightcap.

McMurry Notes
- Bylee Fulps (3-0) allowed seven hits, two runs and a walk with three strikeouts to earn the complete game victory in game two.
- Right fielder Ailyah Tanguma was 2-for-3 with a double in game one.
- Dickens was 3-for-4 with three RBI in game two.
- Brown recorded two home runs for three RBI.
- Center fielder Mercades Camacho was 2-for-3 with a walk and run scored in game two.

Up Next
The Comets and War Hawks will wrap up the series with the rubber match on Saturday at noon.