SAN ANTONIO, Texas (May 3, 2018)-  Maya Paul, Cassie Cannon and Lindsey Smith all homered for Texas A&M International University in the opening game of the Heartland Conference Softball Championships. The three home runs tied a season-high as the Dustdevils fell 6-5 to the Hillcats of Rogers State at The Park at St. Mary's. 
 
The Dustdevils will now face the loser of Lubbock Christian and Oklahoma Christian at 6:30 p.m. Links for live stats and video can be found at GoDustdevils.com under the softball schedule page.
 
Rogers State 6, TAMIU 5
Smith opened the scoring in the bottom of the second with her sixth home run of the season. Following a leadoff single up the middle by Maddison Schofield, Smith took the 1-2 pitch over the fence in left field to give TAMIU an early 2-0 lead. Merissa Smith got the Hillcats on the board with a home run of her own in the top of the third. Cannon restored the Dustdevils two-run lead in the bottom of the third on a solo home run to left field. 
 
The Hillcats countered with a four-run top of the fourth to take their first lead of the game. TAMIU cut the deficit to 5-4 in the bottom half of the inning on a one out single through the left side by Brandi Giles to plate Smith, who reached base earlier in the inning on a hit by pitch. 
 
An infield error allowed RSU to add another in the top of the fifth but Paul pulled one back in the bottom half of the inning with the Dustevils third home run of the game. The conference Freshman of the Year took the 2-0 offering into the bullpen making it 6-5 in favor of RSU after five complete. The Dustdevils got the tying run on base in the bottom of the seventh with one out but hard hit ball resulted in a double play to end the game. 
 
Delainy Thompson (10-15) went four innings allowing six runs (five earned) on five walks with two strikeouts. Melanie Lint was impressive coming out of the bullpen not allowing a baserunner in three innings of relief.