BROWNWOOD, Texas - The UT Dallas softball team opened its final series of the year with a double-header sweep over Howard Payne at Lady Jacket Field Friday afternoon. The Comets (16-17) won the first game 13-4 in five innings, then defeated the Lady Jackets (6-32) 11-2.
Game 1
UTD started the day with two runs in the top of the first. First baseman
Cadence Hernandez doubled in
Claire Pollack, who led off with a walk, then scored on a
Gracelyn Taylor single down the left field line.
HPU tied the game in the bottom of the inning with a two-run single by third baseman McKeanne Saenz.
The Comets exploded for 11 runs on 12 hits in the fourth inning. The frame opened with eight consecutive singles, including a two-run knock from left fielder
Julia Maniscalco.
Mikayla Hoffman drove in two runs on a double to left center and
Avery Martin blasted a three-run homer during the rally.
The Lady Jackets managed two runs in the bottom of the fourth, including a RBI-double from Annie-Klein Allgood. A relay throw from
Claire Pollack in center field to
Sarah Olenick at shortstop to Taylor at the plate threw a runner out to end the inning.
UTD managed a season-best 19 hits and 12 RBI in the game. HPU recorded 10 hits.
Sophomore pitcher
Allison Koch (5-5) started and earned the win, going three innings, allowing six hits, three runs, a walk and two strikeouts. Destiny Sanchez (3-14) took the loss for the Lady Jackets, allowing 10 hits, six runs and a walk over three innings.
Game 2
Freshman hurler
Madelyn Denn (8-6) limited HPU to five hits, two runs and a walk with two strikeouts in the complete game victory. Ava Aviles (2-13) also went the distance for the home team, giving up 16 hits, nine earned runs and one walk with one K.
Pollack and Olenick started the contest with back-to-back singles. Maniscalco drove in both runners with a triple, then scored on a Hernandez sacrifice fly. Alyana Salazer singled in Madison Garza in the third to make the game 3-1.
Cole Johnson doubled and reached third on an error to leadoff the the fourth. Pollack hit a sac fly to right field, plating Johnson to give the Comets a 4-1 lead. UTD posted four more runs on five hits and two errors in the sixth. Maniscalco came up with a two-run double in the inning.
Allgood singled and scored on a Saenz double in the sixth for HPU's final run. In the seventh,
Brooke Bouldin recorded a pinch-hit single and moved to third on a Pollack double.
Kasey McAtee hit a sacrifice fly to center, plating Bouldin, then Hernandez recorded a two-run double for the final 11-2 score.
UT Dallas Notes
- Third baseman
Addison Caddell was 7-for-8 with an RBI in the two games.
- Hernandez went 6-for-8 with three runs, four RBI and a double.
- Maniscalco drove in six runs, on three hits, including a double and triple.
- Pollack came up with four hits, five runs, two RBI, a double and a stolen base.
- Olenick had four hits, three runs, two RBI, a double and a steal.
- Martin's home run was her third of the season.
- Johnson went 4-for-6 with three runs scored and two stolen bases.
- Bouldin's hit was the first of her career.
-
Julia Guerrero scored two runs in the game two.
-
Blair Collier stole two bases in the nightcap.
Howard Payne Notes
- Allgood was 4-for-6 with two runs scored, a RBI and two doubles.
- Garza was 2-for-3 with a run scored in game two.
- Saenz had two RBI and a double on the day.
Up Next
The Comets will play the Lady Jackets in the final games of the season at noon Saturday.
