LAREDO, Texas – A battle between the Heartland Conference's second and third place teams waged in the shape of a doubleheader at Dustdevil Field as Texas A&M International (18-26, 9-7 Heartland) and St. Edward's (26-20, 10-10 Heartland) manufactured a split. Game 1 went to TAMIU via a 6-1 result, while the visiting Hilltoppers claimed game 2, 5-3.

The series' final game will push off at noon on April 12 at Dustdevil Field, serving as Senior Day for the home team.

The Dustdevils will next close their regular season with a pair of 3-game road series, first at No. 5 St. Mary's (40-7, 15-0 Heartland) and then at conference-newcomer Oklahoma Christian (28-13, 10-5 Heartland). The St. Mary's series begins April 16 at 7 p.m. and closes  April 18 with a doubleheader at 3 p.m. The OC series will follow on April 25 with a 1 p.m. doubleheader and a noontime game on April 26.

As the standings show right now, the Dustdevils would currently qualify for the Heartland Conference Tournament as the No. 2 seed. Only the conference's top-4 full-member schools will qualify for the double-elimination tournament to be hosted by the conference's best finisher and No. 1 seed.

TAMIU could mathematically qualify as the No. 1 seed and as Heartland Conference champion if the Dustdevils win every remaining game and St. Mary's loses every remaining game. TAMIU has seven games left: the series finale versus St. Edward's and three apiece at StMU and OC. StMU still faces nine games: three 3-game series versus OC, TAMIU and SEU.

Of course, there are scenarios that could potentially come into play with every conference team's result in every game, with outcomes ranging from an outright champion to co-champions.

GAME 1: TAMIU 6, SEU 1

The Dustdevils fell victim to a self-inflicted unearned run in the top of the first inning – a result of an outfielder error – but responded just two innings later with a pair of 3-run frames. The trio of runs in the third and fourth inning stood resolute as all they needed for victory.

Kyndall Reaves, a senior from Montgomery, Texas, hurled the complete-game 3-hitter, allowing just the one unearned run with three strike outs and no walks. She improves to 6-8 on the season. Katelyn Klug (13-9) took the loss for the Hilltoppers, pitching the complete-game six innings with four strike outs, a walk and six runs – three earned – off eight hits.

Despite the Dustdevils early error, it was the Hilltoppers that sabotaged themselves with three errors which produced three TAMIU runs.

In the bottom of the third, Desiree Ramos singled to centerfield, later retiring on an Anna Parnin fielder's choice. An identical scenario looked ripe to occur off Krissy Sardelich's bat, but a Klug throwing error to second – which would have forced Parnin out – actually put runners on the corners with just one out. Brenda Parnin immediately singled to left field, plating her twin sister to tie the game at one. Chelsea Capello followed with another RBI single, plating Sardelich and placing runners on the corners for the third consecutive at bat. Cassandra De Leon shot a RBI single into the outfield for the third consecutive time that inning, sealing the three-run burst.

Things didn't get any better for the visitors in the bottom of the fourth inning as Reaves led off with a double to centerfield. She advanced to third on an Anna Parnin one-out single before Sardelich drew a walk to load the bases. Brenda Parnin lifted a two-RBI single to center field to put runners on first and second base with a 5-0 lead and just one out. Capello subsequently reached on an error at third base, scoring Sardelich for the game's final run.

The Parnin twins led the day, with Brenda going 2-for-4 with a run and three RBI and Anna going 2-for-3 with two runs. Capello went 1-for-4 with a RBI, De Leon went 1-for-3 with a RBI and Reaves went 1-for-3 with a run. Ramos went 1-for-3 as well.

GAME 2: SEU 5, TAMIU 3

SEU again leapt to an early lead with three runs in the first inning, bookending the game with their final two runs in the sixth. TAMIU fought back with two runs in the fourth and another run in the seventh, but the Dustdevils were outhit 10-4 and three errors for the home team proved costly.

After allowing a first-inning 3-run home run, Sarah Johnson (6-9) settled down to pitch 5 1/3 innings with no strike outs, three walks and five runs – just three earned – off eight hits. Mariena Gallardo relieved her with 1 2/3 innings pitched with a strike out, a walk and two hits allowed. Sarah Debrow (13-9) took the win with the complete-game effort with eight strike outs, a walk and three runs allowed off four hits.

Brittany Mussett went 2-for-3 with two runs for the Dustdevils while Gallardo went 1-for-2 with two-run home run and Kyndall Reaves went 1-for-3. Gallardo drew the team's only walk.

Gallardo's long ball came in the fourth inning, plating Mussett and herself with the blast over the left field wall. The Dustdevils only other run – also scored by Mussett – came off a Reaves double to right-center field in the seventh inning.