RICHARDSON, Texas - The UT Dallas softball team finished its series with Hardin-Simmons by losing both games of a double-header Friday afternoon at UTD Softball Field. The Cowgirls (27-4) won the first game 8-6, then defeated the Comets (13-16) 7-3.

Game 1
With two outs in the bottom of the first, freshman left fielder Julia Maniscalco singled and Cadence Hernandez hit a two-run homer over the right field fence to give UTD a 2-0 lead. They went up 4-0 in the fourth when Evelyn Santos drove in Addison Caddell and Riley Westmoreland with a base hit to right.

Emily Jacobs made the game 4-3 with a home run to right center in the fifth. UTD answered with a lead-off blast by center fielder Claire Pollack to go up 5-3.

HSU took the lead with three runs on two hits, an error, three walks and a hit batter in the sixth. Pollack hit her second home run of the game to lead off the bottom of the seventh to knot the game at 6-6. 

Haley Henson and Jacobs started the top of the eighth off with back-to-back walks. Henson was thrown out at third on a bunt attempt, putting Ella Salinas at first. Caitlin Clem followed with a walk to load the bases. Lindsey Ratcliffe hit a single up the middle, scoring Jacobs for the go-ahead run. Madi Hubbard then recorded a sacrifice fly to center, plating Salinas to make the game 8-6.

The Comets put one runner on in the bottom of the eighth, but did not score.

HSU outhit UTD 10-9. Reliever Hannah Aaron (3-1) threw 1.2 scoreless innings, allowing two walks with a strikeout to earn the win. Allison Koch (3-5) struck out six while throwing all eight innings in the losing effort.

Pollack hit two solo home runs in the game, while Hernandez hit her third of the season. Santos was 2-for-3 with two RBI and was hit by a pitch.

Ratcliffe went 4-for-5 with two doubles and an RBI. Henson was 2-for-2 with a stolen base. Pinch runner Libby Chapman stole two bases and scored. 

Game 2
The Cowgirls outhit the Comets 13-4 in game two. Akysia Grogan (8-1) struck out 11 batters in the win, allowing four hits, three runs and two walks over seven innings. Starter Madelyn Denn (7-6) took the loss. Freshman Erika Fedak threw four scoreless innings of relief for UTD.

Pollack put the Comets on the board in the bottom of the first with her third solo home run of the day. The Cowgirls put up four runs on five hits in the second, including an RBI-double from catcher Addyson Kahklen.

UTD made the contest 4-2 in the bottom of the second when Addison Caddell singled and later scored from third base on a double steal. Ratcliffe hit a two-run homer to center field in the third to give HSU a 6-2 advantage.

Henson singled and scored on an Erin Love base hit up the middle in the fourth. Caddell hit a solo home run in the bottom of the fourth for the final 7-3 tally.

Caddell went 2-for-3 with two runs scored and hit her first home run of the season. Pollack recorded her 10th career homer. Santos also added a hit and a stolen base.

Ratcliffe was 2-for-3 with two RBI on the home run. Jacobs and Hubbard also had two hits. Bailey Miller was 3-for-3 with a walk, RBI and run scored.

Up Next
UTD will play its final home games of the season against LeTourneau on Friday, April 25 in a double-header at 4 p.m.

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