Box Score VICTORIA, Texas – A midweek non-conference showdown saw the University of Houston-Victoria host Texas A&M International. A little more than a month ago, the Dustdevils (5-13, 0-6 Heartland Conference) bested the Jaguars (9-13) in a 14-inning stalemate. The Dustdevils walked off via Michael Colorado's RBI single then, but it was a pair of early runs from UHV that stood tallest on Wednesday.
The game's first two innings strolled along in 5-up, 5-down fashion, with both sides failing to reach base until a UHV two-out triple in the bottom of the second. The Jaguars were stranded at third, and TAMIU registered its first hit with a 1-out Danny Benavides single to right.
Despite a Colorado walk, both runners were stranded.
In the bottom of the third, Garrett Taggart replaced TAMIU starter Armando Manrrique, running into immediate trouble. The Jaguars led off with a double before a 2-run home run. The next batter singled, followed by a hit batter and a fielder's choice secured the first out. A balk put runners on second and third before Taggart struck out the frame's final two batters.
Those two runs were all UHV needed, as TAMIU led off the fourth with an Andrew Arteaga double, a Alex McKeon single and a Connor Belvin walk that loaded the bases. A force out at the plate and two strike outs stranded all three runners.
TAMIU clawed back to within a run of the Jaguars in the seventh inning. Nathan Halas led off with a bunt single, reaching second when Benavides single. Ryan Jozwiak moved both runners with a sacrifice bunt, with Halas scoring when Jake Cardoza grounded out to second base. A fly out ended the threat with the Dustdevils' tying run stranded at third.
Andre Del Bosque recorded the save, clinching the Orlando Quiroga (1-0) victory. Manrrique (0-3) suffered the loss for TAMIU after throwing two innings of 1-hit ball with a strike out. Taggart gave up three hits and two runs in an inning of work, striking out a pair. Ryan Williams shined in his three innings of relief, allowing a hit while striking out one. Clay Phillips and Jared Curnel each pitched an inning with a strike out apiece.
The Dustdevils will return home on Friday, looking for their first Heartland Conference win against Rogers State. A doubleheader will start at 11 a.m. at Jorge Haynes Field.
