Baseball 4/5/2013 5:59:00 PM

Dustdevils Split With Arkansas Fort Smith

Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

LAREDO (April 5, 2013) – TAMIU rebounded from a 4-2 loss in their series opener against the University of Arkansas Fort Smith to take game two 4-2 behind a solid performance from a trio of Dustdevil pitchers Friday afternoon at Uni-Trade Stadium

Abdel Rivera went six innings for the Dustdevils allowing only two runs on four hits with five strikeouts. The junior improved to 7-1 on the season and lowered his season ERA to 2.39. Jared Curnel and Manolo Mendoza pitched three no hit innings in relief to lift TAMIU’s conference record to 17-9 on the year and keep the Dustdevils two games ahead of UAFS for third place in the conference standings..

The Dustdevils and the Lions will square off Saturday afternoon in the rubber match, set for a 12 p.m. start at Uni-Trade Stadium.

Curnel was a bit shaky in his appearance, issuing three walks over two innings. He walked two straight hitters to start the eighth but was able to regain his composure and retire the next three straight to get out of the jam. Mendoza picked up his first save of the year and was as good as he’s looked all season. Using fastballs in the mid 90’s, Mendoza allowed no hits or walks, recorded two strikeouts, and allowed just one runner to reach base on an error before retiring the side.

The Lions got on the board first in the second inning, stringing together three hits to take a 2-0 lead. TAMIU countered with four runs in the fourth to take the lead for good. Alvaro Rondon led things off with a double down the left field line and came around to score on a RBI single by Hector Gonzalez.

Alex Salas laid down a perfect bunt and beat out the throw to keep the rally going. After a sacrifice bunt by Matt Garcia, Sean Smedley plated Gonzalez on a single into center field. Fernando Garza then added the dagger with a line drive that rolled all the way to the wall in right center. Two more runs came around to score before Garza stopped at third with a triple.

Smedley and Rondon each finished 2-for-4 with Smedley adding an RBI. Garza and Gonzalez both went 1-for-3, with two RBI for Garza and one for Gonzalez.

In the opener the Dustdevils were held to just two runs on five hits by UAFS starter Neil Smith, who picked up his first complete game win of the year.

TAMIU starter Jerry Hawkins started hot striking out the first four batters he faced, but cooled as he pressed forward. Hawkins issued a walk and allowed two hits in the third to spot the Lions a 2-0 lead. Gonzalez evened the game in the bottom half of the inning, scoring Anderson and Shimmel on a two-RBI single.

The Lions regained the lead for good in the top of the fourth on a one-out, RBI single by shortstop Ozzie Hurt and a one-out, RBI single by designated hitter Ryan Gros.

Reliever Baylr Bickerton came on in the fifth and allowed just two hits with two walks and a strikeout in three innings of relief.

TAMIU looked to have something going in the bottom of the seventh, but a strange series of events cut the rally short. With runners on first and second with no outs, Jeff Anderson’s bunt attempt was caught by catcher Ben Smith who then fired over to second catching Gordie Taggart off the bag for out number two. A fielder’s choice by Rondon ended the game.

Hawkins fell to 3-3 on the year allowing four earned runs on seven hits with two walks and four strikeouts in a four-inning outing.

Anderson went 2-for-3 in the opener, while Gonzalez was 1 for 3 with two RBI and Garcia and Gordie Taggart were each 1 for 3.

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