The UTD softball team defeated the University of Dallas in two nonconference games on April 1 before losing three conference games to UT Tyler on April 4 and 5.

The first game against the University of Dallas ended in just five innings after the mercy rule was invoked, as the Comets led 9-0. The team gained the lead in the second inning with doubles by junior infielder Morgan Anderson and junior catcher Avery McHugh.

They scored four runs in the third inning and three more in the bottom of the fourth. Freshman pitcher Lauren McLeod allowed just one hit the entire game.

The Crusaders fell short again in the second game with another five-inning loss. The Comets took the lead by storm after scoring four runs in the first inning. The scoring spree began after a triple by sophomore outfielder Chelsea Sartor resulted in a run by sophomore outfielder Taylor Ervin.

The team continued to score runs in the second, fourth and fifth inning. Junior pitcher Jessie Richardson pitched for three innings and allowed two hits and zero runs. Junior pitcher Megan Aragones pitched the last two innings and allowed one hit and zero runs, bringing the final score to 8-0.

UTD was pushed down to eighth place in the ASC rankings after its three losses against UT Tyler. The Patriots are currently ranked fourth in Division III. The Comets did not make any hits in the first game and got on base once due to an error by UT Tyler. Freshman pitcher Sara Davison allowed five hits and three runs, bringing the final score to 0-3. Despite the loss, Davison had a strong pitching performance against the high-ranking team.

“I feel confident,” Davison said. “I am feeling good that I have a team behind me with good defense.”

The second game of the series was a tough loss at 2-8. A double by McHugh in the first inning resulted in a run for the team, but the Patriots already had a two-run lead with a score of 1-3. UTD did not score again until the seventh inning.

Richardson pitched for part of the first inning and allowed three hits and three runs until McLeod relieved her. McLeod allowed an average of one run per inning with a total of five runs within five innings. Aragones pitched the last inning and allowed two hits and zero runs.

“We played a very tough team,” head coach Brad Posner said. “We are still growing, but we are much closer to where we want to be.”

The final game against UT Tyler resulted in another tough loss with the final score at 0-2. The team made six hits but could not follow through with runs. Anderson advanced to third base in the third inning but that was as close as the team got to a run. Davison was handed the loss and allowed two runs and seven hits.

“I think it’s the best we’ve ever played Tyler,” Anderson said. “We came out really confident, and we played the best that we could.”

The Comets will play Letourneau on April 11 and 12 at home.