LAREDO, Texas – With Texas A&M International fighting time for the fourth and final Heartland Conference Tournament seeding, the Dustdevils split a doubleheader on Friday against the third-place Newman Jets (17-17, 10-10 Heartland). TAMIU (14-24, 6-13 Heartland) won the opener, 2-1, but fell in the second game, 4-1, at Jorge Haynes Field.

With the regular season accelerating to full tilt through its final 10 conference games, the Dustdevils are currently on the outside looking in – just two games back of Arkansas-Fort Smith (16-19, 8-11 Heartland) in fourth place. All 10 of the Dustdevils remaining conference games are against teams above them in the standings.

The Dustdevils close the 3-game series with Newman on April 12 at 1 p.m. before traveling to UAFS on April 18-19 for three games, hosting the University of Texas of the Permian Basin (17-21, 8-12 Heartland/fifth place) for three games on April 25-26 and traveling to St. Mary's (27-12, 14-6 Heartland/tied for first) for three games on May 2-3.

With everything left to play for, the Dustdevils control their own destiny for the most part – especially via the contests with UTPB and UAFS. Only the top four finishers in the conference's regular season qualify for the Heartland Tournament, a double-elimination tournament hosted by the league's top finisher.

GAME 1: TAMIU 2, NU 1

Jeremy Gonzalez (3-4) secured the victory from the mound for the Dustdevils, pitching 6 1/3 innings with four strike outs, no walks and just the one run allowed off seven hits. Jared Curnel pitched 1/3 of an inning with a strike out and a walk while Armando Manrrique recorded his first save of the season with 1/3 of an inning of work, rendering just a walk before ending the game. John Branumn (3-6) took the NU loss, going six innings with two strike outs and two runs allowed off eight hits.

The Dustdevils plated shortstop Michael Colorado in the third and fifth innings to stretch to victory. He scored in the third after outfielder Andrew Arteaga launched a double to left-center field on a 1-0 count. In the fifth, Nathan Halas bumped a single to right field for a RBI single.

Halas and catcher Alex McKeon both went 2-for-3, Colorado went 2-for-2 with two runs scored and Arteaga went 1-for-3. First baseman Daniel Cruz went 1-for-2 to round out the Dustdevils' offensive showing.

GAME 2: NU 4, TAMIU 1

 The doubleheader finale followed the first game's score line – but in reverse with NU leading 2-1 – into the top of the ninth inning. But the Jets scored a final pair to insure their victory and split on the day.

TAMIU plated its only run in the third inning off a McKeon sacrifice fly to deep center field. The play scored Halas.

Abdel Rivera (3-6) took the loss for TAMIU, pitching 7 1/3 innings with a strike out, four walks and two runs off five hits. Garrett Taggart pitched an inning of relief with two runs allowed off a hit. Baylr Bickerton pitched 2/3 of an inning, allowing just a hit. NU's Cody Frederickson (4-2) took the win with five strike outs and Brandon Roberts saved his second game of the season.

Halas, Connor Belvin, Jake Cardoza, and Gordie Taggart each went 1-for-4 on the day while Arteaga and McKeon produced 1-for-3 showings. Cruz and Ryan Jozwiak drew the team's only walks. Halas belted a triple and McKeon pushed a double and two sacrifices – a flyout and a bunt. Jozwiak stole a base as well.