LAREDO, Texas – With the regular season swirling toward its finale, the Heartland Conference's seventh place Texas A&M International (14-26, 6-15 Heartland) hosted fourth place Newman (18-17, 11-10 Heartland) at Jorge Haynes Field on Saturday. The contest remained level at 3-3 through most of the day, but defensive miscues opened the door for the Jets' victory, 13-4.

With the defeat, the Dustdevils fall two games back of sixth place Arkansas-Fort Smith, three back of the University of Texas of the Permian Basin and five games back of the final postseason-qualifying position held by Newman. Only the conference's top four teams qualify for the Heartland Conference Tournament, which is hosted by the league's best regular-season finisher.

The Dustdevils face just nine conference games in the season, and only three come at home, where the Dustdevils are11-7 in all competitions. They are just 3-9 on the road. TAMIU travels to face Ouachita Baptist in a non-conference game at 1 p.m. on April 16 before taking on UAFS in a three game set starting at 1 p.m. on April 18 in Fort Smith, Ark. They then return home to host three games versus UTPB on April 25-26 before closing the season with a three-game series at St. Mary's on May 2-3.

  Against Newman on Saturday, the Dustdevils opened with a one-run lead after the first inning but it didn't last long as NU scored two in the second and another in the top of the third. The Dustdevils tied that mark with single runs in the bottom of the third and fourth innings, but never scored again until one final run in the seventh. The Jets took the 4-3 lead in the sixth and added five runs in the seventh after a pair of Dustdevil errors. NU flew from there with another run in the eighth and three in the ninth.

TAMIU committed four errors and was outhit 19-10 by the Jets.

The Dustdevils pitched by committee after starter Clay Phillips (2-2) took the loss and completed his strong six-inning showing. He allowed 11 hits and six runs, but struck out three and walks just two. Jared Curnel relieved him and allowed two hits and two runs in 1/3 of an inning. Baylr Bickerton didn't record an out while allowing two hits and a run. Armando Manrrique pitched 2 1/3 innings of 4-hit ball, allowing four runs –three earned – while striking out two and walking one. Garrett Taggart closed the game with 1/3 an inning of work, striking out one.

 The Dustdevils were anything but quiet offensively, seeing four produce multiple hit performances. Nathan Halas went 2-for-4 with a run and a walk, Andrew Arteaga went 2-for-5 with a RBI, Alex McKeon belted a home run over the left field fence in his 2-for-3 day that included a walk and Daniel Cruz capped his 2-for-3 day with a RBI double. Ryan Jozwiak (1-for-3, R) and Michael Colorado (1-for-4) added hits as well. Gordie Taggart went 0-for-3 but drew a walk and reached on a fielder's choice to render a RBI and a run, while both Cruz and Jozwiak reached after being hit by pitches.

McKeon's long ball came in the third, standing as a solo shot, and Cruz's RBI double fell an inning later.