Sul Ross State University Athletics: SOFTBALL: Lobos come up short in 4-3 loss to Comets

Amanda Workman Athletic Director | Sul Ross State University Athletics

By Far West Texas News Reports

Mar 30, 2023

A possible comeback effort came up short in the bottom of the seventh as the Sul Ross State softball team fell short by a score of 4-3 against the University of Texas at Dallas Comets on Saturday afternoon at the Lobo Softball Field.

The Comets got on the board first with a sacrifice fly to right by Addison Caddell that drove in Claire Pollack in the top of the first.

Erin Ledesma then extended the Comets' lead with a two-run home run in the top of the second to make the score 3-0.

The Sul Ross bats came alive in the bottom of the fourth when Annika Canaba led off the inning with a double to left.

Jaelyn Zuniga followed suit with an RBI double to left to put Sul Ross on the board.

An error by the second baseman allowed Camryn Hardin to reach base safely as pinch runner Jenna Spencer advanced to third.

Veronica Rodriguez delivered an RBI single to center to cut the deficit to one.

With runners at the corners, Rodriguez took off for second and got herself into a pickle which allowed Hardin to score to tie up the game.

On an RBI single by Caddell, the Comets took a 4-3 lead in the top of the fifth.

Sul Ross attempted a two-out rally in the bottom of the sixth after back-to-back singles from Zuniga and Hardin, but the two were left stranded.

Leanza Chambers came into pitch, replacing Madilyn Martinez, in the top of the seventh. She allowed a leadoff single before she struck out the next three batters to keep the game within reach.

Elizabeth Clemente hit a one-out triple to left center in the bottom of the seventh. Unfortunately, the Lobos couldn't drive her in to tie the game.

UT-Dallas had 10 hits while the Lobos tallied eight.

Canaba finished with two doubles and a run scored to go 2 for 3. Zuniga also went 2 for 3 with a single, double, a run scored and an RBI.

Hardin went 1 for 3 with a single and a stolen base while Rodriguez also went 1 for 3 with a single and an RBI.

Samantha Chavez had a leadoff single in the bottom of the first to go 1 for 4.

Martinez pitched six innings as she struck out four batters and walked one. Chambers faced four batters in the seventh as she allowed one hit and tallied three strikeouts.

>> RECORDS: Sul Ross (4-10, 2-7); UT-Dallas (12-7, 5-4)

>> UP NEXT: The Lobos travel to Clarksville, Ark. for a three-game series against the University of the Ozarks beginning with a doubleheader on Friday, March 31 at 2 p.m.