SAN ANTONIO, Texas -- A strong pitching performance by Sarah Johnson and some timely hitting by the Texas A&M International offense paved the way for TAMIU's 2-1 win over UT-Permian Basin on Friday at the Heartland Conference Softball Tournament at The Ball Park at St. Mary's University.

TAMIU entered the seventh and final inning trailing 1-0 and having only two hits for the day and three hits for the tournament.  Things looked grim when the first two batters were retired by UTPB pitcher Desiree Valero but the Dustdevils weren't quite done.  TAMIU would equal its hit total for the tournament over the next three batters before winning the game on a Falcon error.

Brittany Mussett got the rally started when she chopped a single up the middle.  Mariena Gallardo then lined a single past a diving Falcon third baseman to advance pitch runner Victoria Gomez to second base. 

With the tying run at second and the potential winning run at third senior Kyndall Reaves stepped up to the plate.  Her first hit of the tournament would be a big one.  Reaves scorched  a one-one pitch down the right field line for RBI double that plated Gomez to tie the game while sending Gallardo to third base.

Senior Cassie Garcia then stepped to the plate with the potential winning run on third.  The game ended when Garcia's ground ball was misplayed by second baseman Niki DiSera, allowing Gallardo to score the winning run.

Sarah Johnson (7-11) earned the win for the Dustdevils with one of her best pitching performances of the year.  She scattered five hits with two strikeouts and no walks.  UTPB scored its lone run of the game in the fifth inning when Aurora Burks drilled a RBI triple to right center field that fell just out of the reach of Dustdevil center fielder Chelsea Capello.

TAMIU continues Heartland Conference Tournament play later today against St. Edward's.  The winner of that game will face St. Mary's in the championship game tomorrow.