Box Score CANYON, Texas –Texas A&M-International visited West Texas A&M on Sunday, leaving the non-conference showdown with 7-1 defeat. TAMUI falls to 5-9 and 0-3 in the Heartland Conference.
Sophomore third baseman Mauricio Granados and junior right fielder Ryan Jozwiak led the Dustdevils going 2-for-3 and 2-for-4 respectively. Jozwiak scored the team's only run when Arturo Castro Jr. snaked a RBI single to right field in the third inning.
The Buffs began the bottom of the first with a double down the left field line and junior Nick Chapman reached on a Dustdevils defensive miscue for runners at the corners with nobody out. Junior Aaron Blair reached on a fielder's choice plating Redfearn for a 1-0 lead. Senior David Hebert reached on an error plating two more runs for a 3-0 lead.
A double by Jozwiak helped get the Dustdevils on the board as he scored with two outs on a single from Castro. Another hit loaded the bases for TAMIU but the Buffs found a way out of the jam.
The Buffs loaded the bases with one out in the bottom of the sixth courtesy of a pair of singles and a TAMUI miscue. A single to right plated two runs for a 5-1 lead. The fifth Dustdevils error of the game scored the Buffs' sixth run.
Another singled up the middle plated one more WTAM run for a 7-1 lead in the bottom of the seventh.
TAMIU starter Clay Phillips (0-1) took the loss while working 5 2/3 innings of nine-hit ball. He struck out two batters and allowed six runs – just one earned.
Jared Curnel relieved him, going 2 1/3 innings with a strike out. He allowed an earned run off five hits.
The Dustdevils return to action on Feb. 28 to host Heartland Conference foe Oklahoma Christian at Jorge Haynes Field. The showdown will start with a doubleheader, kicking off at noon.
