Feb. 21, 2009

Final Stats

The combination of a dominating pitching performance and a 14-hit offensive attack paved the way for Texas A&M International University to salvage the last game of a four-game Heartland Conference series against league power Incarnate Word.

The Dustdevils won the series finale 13-1 on Saturday afternoon at Dustdevil Field after dropping the first game of the doubleheader 8-3 to the Cardinals. UIW began the series by sweeping Friday's doubleheader.

UIW jumped out to a 5-0 lead after two innings in the opener. TAMIU scored one unearned run in the second inning and two unearned runs in the third inning to cut the lead to 5-3 before the Cardinals put the game away with a three-run fourth inning.

James Santillan (1-2) took the loss for the Dustdevils after allowing eight runs (seven earned) on 10 hits in a 3.1 inning outing.

TAMIU (6-7, 5-5 Heartland) fought off the series sweep with a determined effort in game two. The Dustdevils scored four runs apiece in the fourth and fifth innings to race out to a 9-1 lead.

That's all the offense starting pitcher John Gonzáles would need. After allowing an unearned run in the fourth inning, Gonzáles shutout the UIW (10-4, 8-3) offense with no hits allowed over his final three innings of work. He improved his record to 2-1 after allowing three hits, with three strikeouts and three walks, in a seven-inning complete game effort.

Enrique Granados went 4-for-4 in game two with four RBI and two runs scored. He contributed two big hits in TAMIU's mid-game offensive surge with RBI singles in the third and fourth innings.

TAMIU will return to action next weekend with a three-game Heartland Conference series at Lincoln. First pitch in Friday's doubleheader is scheduled for noon on the LU campus in Jefferson City, Mo.