The softball team struggled in its conference games against Hardin-Simmons, losing all three games.

The Comets lost 7-6 on Feb. 28, and then lost 5-0 and 1-0 in the doubleheader on March 1. Their losses over the weekend bring their overall record to 4-6.

The Comets gave up a one-hit lead in their first game in the bottom of the seventh inning, after coming back from a five run deficit with four runs in the fifth inning. The team gave up a great opportunity in the seventh inning when it loaded the bases and struck out without gaining a single run.

“We weren’t very sharp,” said head coach Brad Posner. “We made some mistakes that we can’t make if we want to win close games.”

The two games on the second day saw similar results for the team, when it gave up the game-deciding run of the second game on an error that allowed Hardin-Simmons to steal home.

The Comets struggled with advancing through the bases throughout the series, never even making it to third base and having only six runs the whole weekend. Pitching also struggled, giving up a combined 19 hits to Hardin-Simmons.

“Losing three in a row is definitely hard,” said junior pitcher Megan Aragones. “We’re a young team, and we’re still trying to mesh together. Now we just have to come out and work harder to prove ourselves.”

Aragones played one game against Hardin-Simmons, pitching three innings and fielding one catch.

With the majority of the season still left to play, the Comets are looking to get the weekend’s losses behind them and move on.

The team with no seniors on the roster this season, has had to look to younger players for leadership. But the start of the season has proved to be a learning experience, so far.

“In the first few games we’ve gotten to know one another better and work together on the field,” said junior catcher Avery McHugh. “I think that we’ll be fine in the next few games.”

McHugh played in all three games, earning three hits against Hardin-Simmons and getting two runs.

Despite the Comets’ lack of points on the scoreboard, Posner said he’s looking forward to the rest of the season.

“I like where we’re at in general,” Posner said. “The overall demeanor of the team is still strong because we have so much of the season left ahead of us. We’re still in a position where this team is capable of doing some really good things.”

Looking back at his teams’ performance over the weekend, Posner seemed optimistic about their ability to regroup and move forward with the rest of the season.

“I’m interested to see how we bounce back,” Posner said. “I think the team has a lot of leaders who are learning to adapt to leadership roles. A lot of them have really responded, but that also takes time. When you entrust people to be leaders on your team, that’s a growing process. It doesn’t happen overnight.”