Feb. 28, 2009
Final Stats
Texas A&M International University swept Lincoln in Heartland Conference doubleheader action on Saturday afternoon at a windy Dustdevil Field. The sweep wraps up a three-game series sweep for the Dustdevils over the Blue Tigers.
Three TAMIU pitchers combined to allow zero earned runs in 16.0 innings pitched in the sweep, paving the way to a 2-0 win in game one and a 3-2 win in the series finale.
B.J. Valadez (3-1) threw a complete game one hitter in the opener, striking out six batters with only two walks in the 7.0 inning effort. The only hit he allowed was a two-out single in the top of the seventh inning.
One run apiece in the first and second innings would be all of the offense that TAMIU would need. Rey Alvarez scored on a bases loaded fielder's choice groundout by Kike Granados in the first and Danny Cornejo scored on a bases loaded walk by Ryan Flynn in the second inning.
TAMIU (9-7, 8-5 Heartland) took advantage of a shaky Lincoln (4-12, 3-12) defense in the first inning of the second game, scoring two runs on only one hit with three errors. The Blue Tigers would get even by scoring two unearned runs in the top of the third inning off of TAMIU starter James Santillan.
The game settled into a pitching duel at that point between Santillan and Lincoln's Dustin Bess. Santillan gave up only one hit after the third inning until being relieved by John Gonzáles in the top of the eight after allowing a lead-off walk to Josh Miller.
Bess went strong until the ninth inning, when he allowed a lead-off walk to Danny Cornejo. The second batter, Jason Bonugli, reached on a bunt single that was intended as a sacrifice bunt.
Ricky Hernández then moved the runners into scoring position with a sacrifice bunt and pinch hitter Gordon Muhammad Jr. was intentionally walked. Leadoff hitter Alvarez won the tight contest with a RBI single to left field that scored Cornejo.
Gonzáles (3-1) picked up the win in a relief role after allowing no runs on two hits in a 2.0 inning effort. Bess took the loss despite allowing only one earned run on seven hits in 8.1 innings of work.
TAMIU will play at home for the fourth straight weekend next weekend. The Dustdevils will host Newman in Heartland Conference doubleheaders on Friday and Saturday. First pitch in Friday's twin bill is scheduled for noon.
