April 14, 2012
Final Stats
GOODWELL, Okla. - The Texas A&M International University softball team moved to within one game of securing a spot in the Heartland Conference Tournament Friday afternoon, sweeping Oklahoma Panhandle State in a doubleheader 11-9 and 8-4. With four conference games remaining on the schedule, the Dustdevils hold a three-game lead over the Aggies and can punch their ticket to the postseason with a game three win on Saturday.
GAME ONE: TAMIU 11, OPSU 9
The Dustdevils outgunned the Aggies in the series opener pounding out 19 hits versus the Aggies 16. Esme Gonzalez turned in her best performance of the season going 4-5 at the plate with two runs scored and an RBI. Alexis Gonzalez finished 3-4 with two RBI, while Kristen LaBuhn and Mariena Gallardo each went 3-5 and combined for three RBI.
Despite allowing nine runs on fifteen hits, sophomore Kyndall Reaves picked up her sixth win of the season.
The Dustdevils took a 1-0 lead in the first off an RBI single by Regina Morales, before adding two more in the second thanks to an RBI double by Gonzalez and an RBI single by LaBuhn.
The Aggies responded with four runs in the bottom half of the second and two in the third to grab a 6-3 lead, but the Dustdevils fired back putting up six in the fourth. Gonzalez led off with a double and was brought around to score on an RBI single by LaBuhn. Gonzalez followed with a two-run homer, before Desiree Ramos and Nikki Salazar recorded back to back hits plating three more runs.
The Aggies answered with three in the fifth to tie the game at nine, but the Dustdevils came back with one run in the sixth and another in the seventh to put the game out of reach.
GAME TWO: TAMIU 8, OPSU 4
Mariena Gallardo was the highlight of game two, getting it done at the plate and on the mound. The freshman went 4-4 with two RBI and a run scored and picked up the complete game win, after allowing four runs on 12 hits with three strikeouts and a walk.
LaBuhn and Gonzalez also made solid contributions combining for five hits, five RBI and three runs.
TAMIU took a 1-0 lead in the first, but the Aggies quickly tied the game with a solo homerun by Chelsea Usher in the bottom half.
The Dustdevils came right back with two more runs in the second to grab a 4-1 lead. Gallardo led off with a single and advanced to second on a bunt single by Salazar. Two batters later, Labuhn ripped an RBI double into left center before Gonzalez plated two more on a two-RBI single.
TAMIU added another run in the fifth, but OPSU countered with three in the bottom half trimming the lead to 5-4. The Dustdevils put the game out of reach scoring three runs in the sixth, highlighted by a two-run blast by Gonzalez.
The Dustdevils improve to 6-5 in conference play with the sweep, while the Aggies fall to 3-8. The series will conclude Saturday afternoon with game three slated for an 11 a.m. start.
