LAREDO, Texas  (April 22, 2017) – The Texas A&M International University Baseball team closed out a weekend series with St. Edward's on Saturday. The Dustdevils took the final game in dramatic fashion 5-4, improving to 11-27 overall (5-13 Heartland Conference).
 
A walk-off win fueled by a Ricky Gonzalez homerun lifted TAMIU past St. Edward's for the first time since 2011.
 
After falling behind by two runs in the first, TAMIU battled back to take their first lead in the fifth.
 
Osvaldo Rosas crossed the plate for TAMIU's first run after a Hilltopper error off the bat of Adrian Castillo.
 
Abel Aguilar drove in two runs to put TAMIU ahead 3-2 just three batters after Rosas drove home Castillo. Aguilar drove in Castillo and Ricky Gonzalez with a double into the right centerfield gap.
 
The Hilltoppers picked up two runs in the eighth to take a 4-3 lead late in the game.
 
TAMIU would again come back to tie the game, plating a run in the bottom of the eighth.  With runners on second and third, Erasmo Gonzalez Jr. laid down a bunt, picking up a base hit and driving in pinch runner, Daniel Espinosa.
 
Ricky Gonzalez led off the bottom of the ninth inning with a solo homerun over the right field wall, leading TAMIU to a walk-off win.
 
Eddie Rodriguez got the nod on the mound, tossing five and a third. Rodriguez scattered seven hits, allowing just two runs. Jorge Gonzalez relieved Rodriguez in the sixth, tossing two innings, striking out four. Eleazar Rojas tossed two thirds of an inning before Nick Perales tossed a scoreless ninth. Perales picked up his first win of 2017.
 
Up Next:
TAMIU travels to Goodwell, Oklahoma for a three game series with Oklahoma Panhandle State next weekend. First pitch is set for Friday, April 28 at 1pm.
 
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