FORT SMITH, Arkansas (March 9, 2017) - The Texas A&M International University Baseball team opened Heartland Conference play against Arkansas Fort Smith on Thursday. TAMIU was dealt a 5-6 loss, moving to 4-10 overall (0-1 Heartland Conference). 

The Lions would strike first, plating two runs in the first and second inning, opening a 4-0 lead after two innings. UAFS would add a fifth run in the third, taking a 5-0 advantage. 

The Dustdevils cracked the runs column in the fifth inning, scoring a pair of runs. Mario Ramirez drove in the first run of the ballgame on an RBI single to center, scoring Alexander Cabezas. Jeremy Valadez would drive home TAMIU's second run on an RBI double, scoring Adrian Castillo. 

The Lions responded with a run in the bottom of the fifth, pushing the lead to four through five innings. 

Jesse Phipps would bring TAMIU within three runs for the second time in as many innings in the sixth. Phipps drove home Alex Medina on an RBI single to center. Ricky Gonzalez picked up an RBI in the sixth after driving home Osvaldo Rosas on a single. 

Medina would bring the game within a run in the eighth inning, sending a homerun over the left field wall. Despite putting the tying run in scoring position the Lions picked up a third out at the plate, keeping the game at 5-6. 

The Dustdevils picked up 14 hits in the loss. 

Devon Torres tossed six innings on the mound, taking the loss. Torres struck out six Lions. Jorge Gonzalez tossed two scoreless innings, allowing just one hit, striking out three. 

Up Next:
The Dustdevils close out the three game set with UAFS on Friday, March 10. Play is set to begin in Fort Smith, Arkansas at 1pm. 

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