CONROE, Texas – Texas A&M International University softball (0-2) opened the 2020 season with a pair of setbacks against the Henderson State Reddies (1-1) and the No. 23 Arkansas Tech Golden Suns (2-0), respectively, in the Arkansas Tech Winter Invitational. 

Game 1: Henderson State 6, Texas A&M International 3  

The Dustdevils opened the scoring in the second inning with a trio of runs scored on Reddie starter, Becca Almond (ND, 0-0: 4.2 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 4 BB, K). Shelby Edwards led off the frame and smacked a double to center field. Erin Mosley would later draw a walk that plated home Edwards. Next at the plate was Melanie Gamboa who grounded out to second base that drove home Alyssa Contreras for the second run of the inning. Contreras later scored on a throwing error by the second baseman, Cecily Rodriguez, to extend the Dustdevil lead to three (3-0).

In the top of the fourth inning the Reddies began to battle back as they registered two runs on a throwing error by third baseman, Heather Ruiz to make it a 3-2 game.

In the road half of the next inning, Henderson State knotted the game at three apiece when Monica Monreal hit a single off of Dustdevil starter, Melanie Lint (L, 0-1: 6 IP, 7 H, 6 ER, 2 K, 2 BB) that brought home Kailey Reese (1-for-2, 2 R, BB). 

In the top of the sixth inning, Taylor Sledd hit a double to center field off of Lint to drive home Christianna Camp (1-for-2, R) to give the Reddies their first lead of the game (4-3). 

Henderson State would later add two more runs to their total and secure the 6-3 victory. 

Game 2: No. 23 Arkansas Tech 7, Texas A&M International 6

In the top of the opening inning, Morgan Chavarria (1-for-3, 2 RBI, R) scored on a throwing error by Golden Sun shortstop, Brooke Prewitt (2-for-4, 3 RBI, 2B), to score the first run for the Dustdevils. The next batter, Edwards launched a two-run home run that cleared the left field fence off of Arkansas Tech starter, Robyn Bales (ND, 0-0: 2 IP, 3 H, 5 R, 3 ER, 5 K) that plated Ruiz (2-for-4, R) to give TAMIU an early 3-0 edge.
 
In the bottom of the first frame, the Golden Suns chipped away at their deficit as Ashton Sangster (0-for-1, 3 BB, R) scored on a throwing error by center fielder Kristy Alanis. The next batter, Paige Mendoza hit a sacrifice fly off of Dustdevil starter Paige Sasser (ND, 0-0: 3 IP, 5 H, 4 R, 2 ER, 2 BB) to make it a 3-2 game. 

In the top of the second, TAMIU continued its success at the plate as Chavarria smacked a two-RBI single to center field that scored newcomers Amanda Vallejo and Christina Garcia to regain a three-run advantage (5-2). 

The Dustdevils built on their lead in the top of the fourth inning as Alanis slapped a double down the left field line to bring home Jordan Meza to give extend their lead to four (6-2). 

In the bottom half of the fourth, the Golden Suns put together a three-run inning that was highlighted by Prewitt's double to right center field off of Denise Longoria (L, 0-1: 3.2 IP, 2 H, 3 R, ER, K, 3 BB) that brought home a pair of runs to bring them within one run (6-5).
  
In the home half of the final inning Arkansas Tech put together a two-out rally and capitalized on a throwing error by second baseman, Victoria Maldonado, to knot the game at six apiece. Two batters later Dustdevil relief pitcher, Miranda Martinez faced Prewitt with the bases juiced. Martinez got ahead in the count, 0-2, however Prewitt hit a walk-off single down the left field line to settle the 7-6 final. 

The Dustdevils continue the Arkansas Tech Winter Invitational tomorrow, Saturday, February 1 with a matchup against Harding (0-2) at 10 a.m. followed by a showdown with Pittsburg State (1-1) at 3 p.m. in Conroe, Texas.