CLAREMORE, Oklahoma (March 29, 2018) - The Texas A&M International University Baseball team opens a four-game Heartland Conference series with Rogers State University on Friday, March 30. The Dustdevils and Hillcats will play a pair of games on Friday and Saturday before returning to Laredo.

WEEKEND RUNDOWN:
The four-game set was set to take place on Thursday and Friday before weather forced the series to be moved to Friday and Saturday.

Friday, March 30
2:00 p.m - 7 Inning game
4:00 p.m. - 9 Inning game

Saturday, March 31
11:00 a.m. - 7 Inning game
1:00 p.m. - 9 Inning game

DUSTDEVILS AND HILLCATS: THE ALL-TIME SERIES
The series opener marks the 13th all-time meeting between RSU and TAMIU. The Dustdevils and Hillcats have played to an even 6-6 split over 12 previous matchups. In the 2017 season, RSU took two of three games in Laredo with the Dustdevils last win coming on March 18, 2017. The last time the Dustdevils and Hillcats faced off at the Diamond Sports Complex in Claremore, the Dustdevils took two of three from RSU. TAMIU picked up a 6-5 win in game two, before taking the series finale 13-5 on April 3, 2015.

LOOKING AT THE HILLCATS: 15-11 (1-3 Heartland Conference)
The Hillcats fell 1-3 in a four-game series at St. Mary's University (TX) last weekend. RSU fell in the opening three games before taking the finale. In the seven-inning finale, AJ Deason tossed six and two-thirds, allowing just six hits and no runs while striking out three Rattlers. Joey Lucas picked up the save, tossing a third of an inning.

Catcher, Chris Floyd leads the Hillcats at the plate this season, posting an average of .343 through 26 games. Floyd has hit one homerun and drove home 13 runs. Zack Mann posts an average of .337 this season, leading the Hillcats with 18 RBI. Brooks Douglass is hitting .326 with 15 RBI. Matt Seubert leads the Hillcats with a pair of long balls this season.

Spencer Bivens leads RSU on the mound with an ERA of 1.41 and sits at 5-2 this season. Bivens has tallied 31 strikeouts in 44 and two-thirds innings pitched. Tim Luce posts an ERA of 2.18 and sits at 3-3. Luce has tossed 45 and a third on the mound, striking out 40.

LOOKING AT THE DUSTDEVILS: 9-16 (1-3 Heartland Conference)
TAMIU fell 1-3 in a four-game set with UAFS at home last weekend. The Dustdevils used their third walk-off of the season in game one before falling in the final three games. Ricky Gonzalez drove home a pair of runs with two outs in the bottom of the seventh to deliver TAMIU's first Heartland Conference win.

Mario Ramirez leads the way for TAMIU at the plate with a .329 average. Ramirez is responsible for one of TAMIU's three walk-off's this season and has 26 hits through 25 games. Caesar Espinoza posts an average of .301 with a pair of doubles and a pair of RBI this season. Mathew Rosales leads the Dustdevils with two homeruns this season.

Eleazar Rojas sits at 1-1 this season through four starts. Rojas leads the team in ERA, posting a 1.04 and strikeouts with 37 over 26 innings pitched. Hugo Mendiola is 2-2 this season, tied with Justin Diaz for the top win total on the staff.

UP NEXT:
Following the four-game series in Claremore, TAMIU returns home to host Oklahoma Christian for a four-game series at Jorge Haynes Field. The Dustdevils and Eagles with open play on Friday, April 6 at 1:00 p.m.