LAREDO, Texas (March 23, 2018) - The Texas A&M International University Baseball team concluded a four-game series with Arkansas-Fort Smith on Friday. The Dutsdevils fell 1-9 in game one before falling 1-8 in game two. The Dustdevils move to 1-3 in Heartland Conference play and 9-16 overall.
SERIES RUNDOWN:
The Dustdevils won the series opener on a walk-off double from
Ricky Gonzalez before falling in the final three games at home.
GAME 1: TAMIU 1 - UAFS 9
Ruben Solis got the nod on the mound for TAMIU in game one, tossing six innings for the Dustdevils. Solis kept the Lions off the board through two innings before UAFS struck for six runs in the third. Solis finished the game with three strikeouts.
Mark Trimble tossed an inning of relief.
Despite falling behind 0-9, the Dustdevils picked up a run in the bottom of the sixth inning, cutting the lead to eight.
TAMIU tallied five hits in the loss.
Mario Ramirez and
Jorge Napoles each picked up a pair of hits while
Kobrey Garcia drove in the Dustdevil run.
GAME 2: TAMIU 1 - UAFS 8
Erick Garay started game two, tossing three innings. Garay struck out five batters but a four-run first shortened the outing.
Justin Diaz relieved Garay in the fourth, tossing two innings. One of Garay's inherited runners scored in the fourth while Diaz allowed just two hits. Trimble made his second appearance of the day in the sixth, tossing one and two-thirds innings on the mound. Trimble struck out one while two earned runs scored.
Coleman Butler tossed the final two and a thirds for TAMIU, picking up three strikeouts.
TAMIU used a late run to cut an eight-run lead to seven, scoring in the bottom of the eighth.
The Dustdevils picked up four hits in game two. Napoles picked up his second two-hit performance of the day as
Alex Cabezas and Cesar Espinosa accounted for the other two Dustdevil hits.
CLAREMORE BOUND:
The Dustdevils will take on Rogers State in their next Heartland Conference series. The Dustdevils and Hillcats open play on Thursday, March 29 in Claremore. First pitch is slated for 1:00 p.m.
