RICHARDSON, Texas - The UT Dallas softball team opened its three-game American Southwest Conference series with Howard Payne with back-to-back 3-0 shutouts at UTD Softball Field Friday.
Game 1
McKenzie Cutbirth struck out eight in a three-hit shutout for the Comets (15-10, 6-5 ASC).
They took advantage of two Lady Jacket (8-18, 1-13 ASC) errors in the fourth inning to go up 2-0. Catcher
Gracelyn Taylor drove in Mikayla Hoffman with a base hit to center and
Celeste Soliz was knocked in by
Erin Ledesma with a sacrifice fly.
The last run of the game came in the sixth after Aleixa Mullen hit an infield single, moved to second on a
Claire Pollack single and took third on a passed ball.
Addison Caddell followed with a sac fly to right, plating Mullen.
UTD outhit HPU 5-3 in the opener. The Lady Jackets committed four errors.
Game 2
The Comets had a stellar pitching performance by
Marisa Mejia, who struck out four and in a three-hitter.
Once again, errors cost Howard Payne in the first inning, as UTD scored twice on two hits and a pair of miscues. Center fielder
Cole Johnson recorded an RBI-single which plated Caddell and
Cadence Hernandez scored on a misplay by the HPU left fielder.
The Comets added another run in the second when Soliz led off with a double to left and scored on a Ledesma single down the right field line.
Mejia remained dialed in with five 1-2-3 innings. The Comets had seven hits in the nightcap.
UT Dallas Notes
- Mejia improved to 3-4 with her first shutout of the season and the fourth of her career.
- Cutbirth moved to 10-1 on the year with her fourth shutout.
- Mullen was 1-for-2 with a run scored, two walks and a pair of steals in game one.
- Soliz drew two walks and scored in game one, then had the double with another run in the second contest.
- Hernandez extended her hitting streak to 10 games with a single in both contests.
- Ledesma drove in two runs and stole a base on the day.
Howard Payne Notes
- Kayla Camacho (2-7) took the loss in game one, allowing five hits, three unearned runs, five walks and striking out four.
- Bree Cason (6-11) gave up seven hits, one earned run and a walk with four strikeouts in game two.
- Right fielder Maddison Cason walked three times and stole two bases in game one and added a hit in the nightcap.
- Elise Munzo had two hits and a walk in game two.
Up Next
The final game of the series will take place Saturday at noon.
