Texas A&M International improved to 6-6 on the season with a doubleheader sweep of South Texas rival Texas A&M-Kingsville on Tuesday afternoon at Dustdevil Field.  TAMIU edged the Lady Javelinas 4-3 in the opener before winning the second game 8-0 in a game shortened by the run rule.

A&M-Kingsville scored two runs in the top of the fourth inning of the opener on a throwing error to first base by TAMIU starter Kyndall Reaves to take a 2-0 lead.  TAMIU responded by scoring four runs in the bottom of that frame to take the lead.

The Dustdevils tied the score on a two-RBI double to left field by Mariena Gallardo.  Desiree Ramos then contributed a sacrifice fly RBI to left field to give the Dustdevils the lead before Olivia Garcia capped the inning’s scoring effort with a RBI single to right field.

The Lady Javelinas notched one run in the sixth inning before a couple of errors by the home team made the game more interesting than it should have been in the top of the seventh.  Cortnee White lead off the seventh for Kingsville by reaching base on a misplaced ground ball by Dustdevil second baseman Marisa Castillo.  Two outs and three batters later, Adela Gomez reached base on a dropped fly ball by Garcia.  TAMIU then intentionally walked Lex Cordova to set up a bases loaded situation but the threat and game ended when Corina Noel flew out to Dustdevil centerfielder Esmeralda Gonzalez.

Reaves (2-2) earned the win for the Dustdevils with a 7-inning complete game effort.  She allowed three runs (one earned) on five hits with two strikeouts and three walks.

TAMIU took control of game two early on, scoring three runs in the first inning and two runs in the third inning.  Castillo slapped a bases loaded 2-RBI single to right field to get the scoring started in the first inning.  Emily Smith pushed the lead to 3-0 with a sacrifice fly to right field.

Rochelle Nash lead off the third inning with a solo home run to dead center field to give the Dustdevils a 4-0 lead.  Smith then contributed a RBI bunt single to provide the Dustdevils what would prove to be an insurmountable 5-0 lead.

TAMIU scored one run on a RBI single by Cassie Garcia in the fifth inning to take a 6-0 lead.  Olivia Garcia reached base after being hit by a pitch to lead off the sixth inning.  She advanced to second base on a sacrifice bunt by Gonzalez and the game then ended early in accordance with the 8-run rule when Nash blasted her second home run of the game, this one flying over the left field fence.

Sarah Johnson (1-1) earned the shutout win after allowing four hits with three strikeouts and two walks in a 6-inning complete game effort.

Nash contributed six of TAMIU’s 16 hits for the day.  She went 6-for-7 with two home runs, three RBI and four runs scored.