SAN ANTONIO, Texas (May 4, 2017) - The Texas A&M International University Softball team opened play in the 2017 Heartland Conference Championship Tournament on Thursday morning. The Dustdevils picked up a 1-0 win, advancing in the winner's bracket. 

A pitchers duel brewed in the opening game of TAMIU's ninth straight postseason appearance. 

Newman would advance a runner to third with two outs in the first and third innings, threatening to score the first run of the ballgame on two occasions. Sara Caterson would work her way out of both jams, keeping Newman off the board. 

After sending a ball to the wall, gloved by a Jet outfielder, Cassie Cannon crushed a double to left-center. Cannon would steal third on a bang-bang play to put TAMIU within 60 feet of the first run. 

With an out in the inning, Robi Kami laid down a sacrifice bunt, allowing Cannon to cross the plate for the game's first run, giving TAMIU a 1-0 advantage with just three Jet outs remaining. 

Caterson retired two batters in the seventh before Delainy Thompson relived the Freshman. Thompson recorded the final out on a strikeout, picking up her first save of 2017. Caterson went six and two-thirds innings in the circle, scattering four hits and striking out two. 

Up Next:
TAMIU will advance within the winners bracket, taking on host and #1 seed St. Mary's this afternoon at 4pm. 

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