Baseball 2/1/2013 11:57:00 PM

Dustdevils sweep UTPB on opening day

Box Score LAREDO (February 1, 2013) – Some hometown heroics and a fantastic job from the Dustdevils pitching staff helped the TAMIU baseball team open the season with a two-game sweep over UT-Permian Basin in the first ever collegiate games played at the newly opened Unitrade Stadium.

Jerry Hawkins went six complete innings in game one allowing no runs on two hits with five strikeouts as the Dustdevils took the opener 6-0.

Laredo native Ramon Sandoval homered twice in the nightcap, both two-run shots, to help TAMIU to a 6-2 win over the Falcons in game two.

The Dustdevils, who have never before in program history opened the season with back-to-back shutouts, gave up two runs in the top of the ninth falling just short of the milestone.

GAME ONE: TAMIU 6, UTPB 0

The Falcons were the first to threaten putting runners at the corners with no outs in the second after consecutive errors by the TAMIU infield. Nelson Quintero looked to score Jordan Van Atta from third with a deep fly ball to right field, but Van Atta was gunned down by TAMIU right fielder and Laredo native Fernando Garza. Hawkins got Neil Madsen to fly out to Garza to end the jam.

After three more scoreless innings, the Dustdevils finally jumped on top scoring a run in the bottom of the fifth. Sean Smedley reached on an error by first baseman Neil Madsen and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Grant Garrett. Jaron Shimmel trotted to first after being hit in the shoulder and Jeff Anderson followed with a single through the right side to load up the bases. United High School product Hector Gonzalez then drove Smedley home from third with a deep sac-fly to right field.

TAMIU then came through with four hits and took advantage of two Falcon errors to score five runs in the sixth. Sandoval and Alex McKeon led off with back to back singles and were brought around to score after a throwing error on an attempted sac-bunt by Garza and a single by Smedley. Garza then came home on a wild pitch before Shimmel singled to left advancing Smedley to third. An errant pick-off throw by Falcons pitcher Jacob Ricossa brought Smedley home and sent Shimmel to second. Three consecutive walks pushed Shimmel across to give TAMIU a 6-0 lead.

Donald Fennell came on in the seventh to close and allowed only one hit before retiring the side.

GAME TWO: TAMIU 6, UTPB 2

The Dustdevils’ bats came to life in game two, shelling the Falcons’ pitching staff for 13 hits while TAMIU starter Abdel Rivera delivered the second solid performance of the day. Rivera went six innings allowing no runs on four hits with six strikeouts.

With no score in the bottom of the third, Matt Garcia delivered a two-out single down the left field line before Sandoval stepped up and blasted one over the left field wall to give the Dustdevils a 2-0 lead.

TAMIU strung five hits together in the fourth, adding two more runs to their total. Shimmel singled through left side and moved to third on a double to right field by Gonzalez. Anderson and Alvaro Rondon followed with back-to-back singles boosting the Dustdevils’ lead to 4-0.

In the eighth Sandoval struck again with another two-run shot, scoring Anderson who had doubled to center field earlier in the inning.

The Falcons tried to make things interesting scoring two runs in the ninth, but reliever Dino Cristiani maintained his composure and retired the side to give TAMIU the 6-2 win.

TAMIU starts the season with a 2-0 conference record and will match up with UT-Permian Basin Saturday afternoon for game three of the series. First pitch is set for 1 p.m. at Unitrade Stadium.

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