Box Score 1 |
Box Score 2 EDMUND, Okla. – Texas A&M International traveled to Oklahoma Christian to conclude its season with a three-game series over two days. The Dustdevils played for seeding as they prepared for their sixth consecutive Heartland Conference Tournament.
The Eagles (33-14, 15-6 Heartland) swept the doubleheader with 8-1 and 15-12 victories to lock the Dustdevils (19-32, 10-12 Heartland) in as the conference's No. 4 seed for next weekend's postseason tournament.
TAMIU and OC will conclude their regular seasons with a single game at noon on Saturday. TAMIU will open play against No. 1-seed St. Mary's, as the Rattlers host the tournament due to winning the regular season Heartland crown. The Heartland tournament is a double-elimination competition featuring the league's four best full-member teams from May 1-3.
GAME 1: OC 8, TAMIU 1
The Dustdevils fell into a quick four-run hole after three innings, and it grew too deep to dig out of despite Brittany Mussett's RBI double in the top of the fourth. Mussett finished 1-for-3 with the team's only RBI, but Chelsea Capello joined her as the only other Dustdevil with an extra-base hit. They were the only Dustdevils with hits.
Krissy Sardelich drew a walk as the only other TAMIU batter to reach base.
Kyndall Reaves (6-11) pitched the complete game, going six innings with 12 hits and eight runs – five earned – allowed. She walked three and struck out three.
GAME 2: OC 15, TAMIU 12
Standing in stark contrast to Game 1's sluggish start, the Dustdevils victimized the Eagles with a seven-run first inning and 11 total runs in the first three innings. But a pair of five-run frames and four more in the second inning stood as the difference for the Eagles.
Cassandra De Leon opened the plate parade with a RBI single to score Brenda Parnin before Mariena Gallardo blasted a 3-run home run to score De Leon and Capello. Designated hitter Cassie Garcia (1-for-2, 2 R, 3 RBI, BB) did her job by going back-to-back and stamping an exclamation point on the first inning with 3-run home run to plate Desiree Ramos and Reaves. The Dustdevils pounded six RBI between the two sluggers in two swings.
De Leon joined the long-ball brigade with a solo shot in the top of the second inning and Parnin punched her ticket as well with a 3-run blast in the top of the third, scoring Garcia and Ramos.
Capello pushed the Dustdevils' final run across in the seventh with a RBI double to center field, scoring Parnin.
Parnin (3-for-5, 3 R, 3 RBI), De Leon (3-for-5, 2 R, 2 RBI) and Ramos (3-for-4, 2 R) led the Dustdevils with a trio of hits each. Capello (1-for-4, R, RBI), Gallardo (1-for-5, R, 3 RBI), Anna Parnin (1-for-4) and Garcia reached with hits.
Sarah Johnson (6-11) took the loss with a four-inning outing. She allowed 14 hits and 14 runs – 13 earned – while walking six and striking out three. Gallardo closed the game with two innings with two hits and a run allowed.