FORT SMITH, Ark. – With just three 3-game series left in the regular season, Texas A&M International opened with a doubleheader at the University of Arkansas-Fort Smith, falling in both games, 5-2 and 9-7.

With the defeats, TAMIU falls to 14-29 overall and 6-17 in Heartland Conference play.

The Dustdevils will close with the third game against UAFS at 1 p.m. on Saturday before hosting the University of Texas of the Permian Basin for three games in Laredo on April 25-26 and closing the regular season at St. Mary's on May 2-3.

GAME 1: UAFS 5, TAMIU 2

The Dustdevils fell into a 3-0 deficit in the fifth inning, but fought back with a pair of platings in the top of the sixth. Two more runs by the Lions stretched the game out of reach as TAMIU starter Jeremy Gonzalez fell to 3-5 on the season.

Gonzalez threw 5 2/3 innings with five strike outs and just four hits allowed. His solid outing on the mound was marred by two unearned runs, results of two fielding errors by the team. He also hit two batters. Baylr Bickerton pitched just 1/3 an inning of relief, striking out a batter.

Andrew Arteaga led the Dustdevils with a 1-for-3 outing, including a double and a RBI. Nathan Halas remained hot, going 1-for-3 while Arturo Castro Jr. and Michael Colorado both went 1-for-2 with runs scored.

GAME 2: UAFS 9, TAMIU 7

The Dustdevils came close in the nightcap, clawing a comeback with three runs apiece in the sixth and ninth innings, but a UAFS four-run sixth stood as the difference. TAMIU took an early 1-0 lead but fell behind 4-1 through the fifth. The team again allowed a pair of unearned runs – standing as the difference – with four defensive errors.

Preseason All-South Central Region Honorable Mention Abdel Rivera started and went 5 1/3 innings with three strike outs, a walk and nine hits allowed. The Lions scored seven runs – six earned – off him. Baylr Bickerton (3-4) took the loss after going 1 2/3 innings with a strike out, a walk and two runs – one earned – off four hits. Garrett Taggart pitched an inning of relief with a strike out.

Both Rivera and Bickerton hit batters.

Offensively, Arteaga again came through with a 2-for-5 day including a run scored. Alex McKeon went 2-for-4 with a RBI, a walk and two runs scored. Daniel Cruz went 1-for-4 with a RBI and two runs; Halas went 1-for-5 with a run; Jake Cardoza went 2-for-4 with three RBI; Gordie Taggart went 2-for-5; and Colorado went 2-for-4 with a walk and a RBI. Connor Belvin scored a run, walked and had a RBI despite going 0-for-4. Cruz smacked a double and reached after being hit by a pitch.