LAREDO, Texas - Texas A&M International University softball (23-30, 14-15 Heartland Conference) dropped the first game by a score of 9-2 but bounced back and won the finale 3-2 over the Lubbock Christian University Lady Chaparrals (29-16, 16-13 Heartland Conference) on Friday afternoon.

Game 1: Lubbock Christian 9, Texas A&M International 2  

The Lady Chaps wasted little time in the first game of the twin bill as Alivia Villarreal (3-for-3, 2 HR, 4 RBI, 3 R, BB) hit a two-run home run over the fence in left center field off of Dustdevils starter, Jenika Lombrana (L, 10-13: 3 IP, 3 H, 3 ER, 4 K, BB) to give Lubbock Christian a 2-0 edge in the top of the second frame. Three batters later, Savannah Wysocki (2-for-5, 2 RBI, R) hit a run-scoring double that plated home Alexa Riggs to extend the Lady Chaps' lead to three (3-0).

The Dustdevils countered in the bottom of the third inning when Lindsey Smith smacked a two-RBI single to left field off of Lady Chaps starter, Jordan Wehr (W, 11-5: 7 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 0 ER, 3 K, BB) that allowed Maddison Schofield and Morgan Chavarria (2-for-4, R) to slash the deficit to one (3-2).

In the top of the fourth inning, Villarreal sparked a four-run inning by smacking her second two-run blast of the game, this time off of reliever Melanie Lint, that brought home Morgan Dufour that gave the Lady Chaps a three-run cushion yet again (5-2). Later in the frame, Wysocki hit a single up the middle that allowed Breanna Anderson to score to give the Lady Chaps a four-run advantage (6-2). Wysocki would end up crossing the plate while K'leigh Arredondo grounded out to third baseman, Maya Paul to give Lubbock Christian a 7-2 lead.

Following Smith's two-RBI single, Wehr would settle down in the circle and throw four consecutive scoreless innings and Lubbock Christian tallied two more runs to secure a 9-2 victory on the road.

Game 2: Texas A&M International 3, Lubbock Christian 2

TAMIU put together a trio of runs in the home half of the second inning that featured a single by Melanie Gamboa off of Lady Chaps starter, Amber Carlton (L, 7-3: 6 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 5 K, 3 BB) that brought home Heather Ruiz (2-for-3, R) and pinch runner Felicity Bernal to give TAMIU a 2-0 lead. The next hitter, Paul also hit an RBI single to extend the Dustdevils' lead to three (3-0).

Dustdevils starter Sara Caterson (W, 8-9: 5 IP, 8 H, 2 R, 0 ER, 4 BB) had a solid outing as she threw 4.2 innings of scoreless softball before an error by the shortstop, Ruiz allowed a pair of Lady Chaps to touch home and cut their deficit to one (3-2) in the top of the fifth inning.

After Caterson gave up a pair of singles to open up the top of the sixth inning, Coach Scott Libby called on Denise Longoria (SV, 1: 2 IP, 0 H, 0 ER) to try to get out trouble. Longoria recorded three straight ground outs to conclude the inning. Longoria would return in the seventh inning and got the last three Lady Chaps out consecutively to secure her first save of the season and close out a 3-2 home victory.

The Dustdevils conclude their regular season schedule with a Heartland Conference matchup against Lubbock Christian University (29-16, 16-13 Heartland Conference) on Saturday, April 26 at 12 p.m. Prior to first pitch, TAMIU will honor their four seniors, Maddison Schofield, Lindsey Smith, Sara Caterson and Sumer Woodson.