RICHARDSON, Texas - The UT Dallas softball team battled Hardin-Simmons to a double-header split in American Southwest Conference action Friday evening.

The Comets (16-20, 7-15 ASC) won the first game 3-0 before the Cowgirls (25-11, 14-9) took the nightcap 8-7.

Game One
UTD outhit HSU 10-3 in the opener with McKenzie Cutbirth (11-6) allowing five walks and striking out six.

The Comets got on the board in the third when shortstop Erin Ledesma singled, moved to second on a passed ball and scored on a Claire Pollack hit to center. Freshman first baseman Cadence Hernandez led the fourth off with a solo home run over the right center fence.

The final run came in the fifth. Ledesma led off with a single up the middle and later scored on an Addison Caddell base hit.

Game Two. 
The Comets scored in the first when Alexia Mullen led off with an infield single and later crossed the plate on a Caddell sacrifice fly.

After tying it in the second, first baseman Ella Salinas hit a grand slam in the third to give HSU a 5-1 advantage. They added one more run that inning and Maddi Hubbard had a two-run double in the fourth to go up 8-1.

UTD began to chip into the deficit with a RBI-single from Celeste Soliz and a sac fly off the bat of Gracelyn Taylor. Caddell hit a three-run homer to left center in the fifth which was followed by another solo shot from Hernandez over the center field wall, making the game 8-7.

Both teams recorded 10 hits in the game. 

Kylie Ruiz (4-2) started and got the win with Aubrianna Salzar earned the two-inning save. Taylor Nicole Marchin (0-2) took the loss for UTD.

UT Dallas Notes
- Hernandez' two home runs gives her a team-leading four on the year.
- Caddell's blast was the third of the season. She had four total RBI with two hits and two RBI in game two.
- Ledesma was 2-for-2 with two runs scored in game one.
- Mullen had a hit, walk, scored twice and stole a base in game two. She now has 22 steals on the season.
- Taylor went 2-for-2 with a sac fly in the nightcap.
- Cutbirth threw her fifth shutout of the season.

Hardin-Simmons Notes
- Left fielder Emily Jacobs was 2-for-3 with a double in the opener. She went 1-for-3 with a pair of runs in game two.
- Salinas was 2-for-4 with the grand slam and two runs scored in game two.
- Ashley Easly went 2-for-4 with a RBI in the second game.
- Ava Dennis was 2-for-3 with two runs and a walk in the nightcap.
- Haven Williams (10-5) took the loss in game one.
- Ruiz won the second game and also threw 1.2 scoreless innings with three Ks in the opener.

Up Next
UTD will end its season against HSU at noon Saturday. The senior class of 2024 will be honored before the game.