Box Score 1 |
Box Score 2 LAREDO, Texas – Texas A&M International returned to Jorge Haynes Field on the university's campus for a Heartland Conference series against Oklahoma Christian on Friday, playing a doubleheader against the Eagles. The games saw TAMIU fall to 5-11 overall and 0-5 in Heartland play with a 4-1 loss in game one and an 8-2 loss in game two.
The final game of the 3-game series will be played on March 1 at Jorge Haynes Field at noon.
GAME 1: OC 4, TAMIU 1 (7 innings)
The Dustdevils dug an early hole, when the Eagles' Blake Stringer crossed the plate for an unearned run in the top of the first inning. OC added another run in the third when Stringer hit a RBI double, and two more runs in the fourth inning.
The Dustdevils battled back, spreading four hits throughout the game, finally scoring in the bottom of the seventh inning. TAMIU right fielder Andrew Arteaga stroked a single to left field and later stole second base before scoring when the next batter, catcher Alex McKeon, launched a double to deep left field. McKeon battled back from no-balls, 2-strike count before making contact.
That one run was all the Dustdevils managed though, despite 1-for-3 performances by Jake Cardoza, Arteaga, McKeon and Connor Belvin. Arturo Castro Jr. reached base via a walk, standing as TAMIU's only other base runner.
Dustdevils starter Jeremy Gonzalez (0-2) went the distance, throwing seven innings and allowing seven hits and just a pair of earned runs. He sizzled with 10 strikeouts and only three walks. He hit a batter and tossed one wild pitch against 34 total batters faced.
OC's Brandon Pierce (2-1) was the Eagles' pitcher of record, going the complete game with five strikeouts, a walk and four hits allowed.
Game 2: OC 8, TAMIU2
Preseason All-South Central Region Honorable Mention Abdel Rivera (1-2) pitched a gem of a game through 6 1/3 innings, but he suffered the loss for the Dustdevils. He struck out one, walked one and allowed only three earned runs off seven hits against 28 batters faced.
Baylr Bickerton pitched 2 2/3 innings with just five hits allowed, leading to four earned runs.
Offensively, the Dustdevils jumped to an early lead, scoring a run in the bottom of the first inning after Rivera sat the Eagles down in order. Cardoza led off with a walk before back-to-back singles to center field by Michael Colorado and Arteaga. Belvin roped a single to center just two batters later, plating Colorado.
The Eagles tied the game in the top of the fourth before taking the lead with two runs in the sixth, three in the seventh and a final two in the ninth. OC starting pitcher Kelby Reneau (2-0) took the win, going six innings with two strikeouts, two walks and six hits allowed. Dillon Endecott closed the game, going three innings with three strikeouts and three hits allowed.
TAMIU got a run back in the eighth when McKeon led off with a single, later advancing on a Belvin two-bagger that shadowed the left-field line. Designated hitter Jonathan LaFrenz lifted a sacrifice fly to straight-away centerfield, scoring McKeon.
Arteaga went 3-for-5 to lead TAMIU while McKeon went 2-for-5 with a run and Belvin went 2-for-4 with a RBI. Colorado and Ryan Jozwiak each went 1-for-4 while Cardoza and Belvin both drew walks. Jozwiak also doubled in the fourth inning.
