FORT SMITH, Ark. – Texas A&M International maintained its fight through the home stretch of the regular season, closing a three-game series at the University of Arkansas-Fort Smith on Saturday. The Dustdevils (14-30, 6-18 Heartland Conference) fell to the Lions, 11-1.

TAMIU faces just six more games – three as hosts against the University of Texas of the Permian Basin on April 25-26 and the final three at St. Mary's on May 2-3.

On Saturday, TAMIU managed its only run off a Gordie Taggart sacrifice fly that plated Alex McKeon on the fourth inning. At the time, the Dustdevils trailed UAFS 2-1, but the Lions scored single runs in the bottom of the fourth and eighth innings and exploded for seven runs in the fifth. The run-shortened game ended after the run in the eighth brought the difference to 10 runs.

Taggart led the Dustdevils, going 2-for-2 with a walk, a stolen base, a double and the sacrifice fly. McKeon, Michael Colorado and Daniel Cruz each went 1-for-3 to muster all the offense for TAMIU. McKeon drew a walk and Arturo Castro Jr. was hit by a pitch.

Clay Phillips (2-3) took the loss, pitching four innings with seven hits and five runs allowed. He struck out one, threw a wild pitch, hit two batters and walked one. Garrett Taggart pitched 1/3 an inning with three hits and four runs allowed, walking one. Marty Bigham pitched 2 2/3 innings with two strike outs and a run allowed off two hits. Ryan Williams didn't record an out, but allowed three hits and a run.

The Dustdevils committed two defensive errors in the loss.