LAREDO, Texas - In a 15-10 victory on Friday, Texas A&M International baseball (16-25, 7-8 HC) took its first-ever series win against No. 23 Lubbock Christian (30-11, 12-3 HC), and in the process handed LCU its first series loss of the 2019 campaign.

Offensive abounded in spades in this game as the Dustdevils racked up 20 hits in the win, the most against any Heartland Conference team this season. They also scored at least two runs in six of the eight innings in which they sent batters to the plate.

LCU got things started with a bang with  a two-run homer in the top of the first. In what would be a theme every time the Chaps scored, TAMIU responded with two runs of their own in the bottom half with Jorge Napoles driving in Andrew Holsey with a RBI single to center followed by Anthony Handel scoring on a failed pick off attempt during the next at-bat.

The Dustdevils would take their first lead of the game in the third, plating two runs and pushing out to a 4-2 advantage. Napoles once again brought home Holsey with a RBI single, this time to left center. Mathew Trevino scored Handel with a sacrifice fly later in the inning. 

Not to be outdone, LCU tied things back up at 4-4 with two runs of their own in the top of the fourth on back-to-back solo blasts. TAMIU responded again and retook the lead 7-4. Holsey came home as Matthew Rosales drew a bases loaded walk, with Adrian Castillo scoring Handel and Napoles with a two-RBI double down the left field line.

The Chaps refused to back down and tied things once again at 7-7 with their own three runs in the top of fifth. A RBI single through the left side of the infield scored one run, with a two-run round-tripper to right bringing in the other two runs.

The Dustdevils showed their mettle once again in the bottom half of the inning and retook the lead to stay at 9-7 off a two-RBI single from Handel, scoring Daniel Espinoza and Obi Obinwa.

They tacked on four more runs in the sixth to push out to a 13-7 lead. A two-RBI single from Obinwa scored Phillip Sanchez and Trevino. Handel scored Obinwa with a RBI single to center, with Napoles plating Espinoza with a sacrifice fly to left. TAMIU scored their final two runs in the seventh, as Obinwa brought in Castillo with a double down the right field line and Espinoza scored Obinwa with a single up the middle to take a 15-7 lead.

LCU refused to go down with out a fight however, as they attempted to mount a comeback with three runs in the top of the eighth. A bases-clearing double to right center brought in all three runs, cutting the deficit to 15-10. Unfortunately, the rally would come up short as they went quietly in the top of the ninth.

Hugo Mendiola (2-3, 2.2 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 2 SO) earned his second win of the season in the victory. Logan McCrummen (4-3, 4.1 IP, 10 H, 9 R, 8 ER, 3 BB, 5 SO) took the loss.

The Dustdevils will be back in action on Friday, April 26 as they travel to Fort Smith, Ark. for the regular season road finale against Arkansas-Fort Smith.