TYLER, Texas – Texas A&M International University softball (1-6) started the Texas A&M-Commerce/UT Tyler Invitational and fell 8-6 to the UT Tyler Patriots (7-0) and then defeated the Texas Woman's Pioneers (2-4) by a score of 15-2, respectively, on Friday.
Game 1: UT Tyler 8, Texas A&M International 6
In the opening inning, UT Tyler scored a pair of runs off of Dustdevil starter, Melanie Lint (L, 0-3: 4 IP, 4 H, 5 R, 4 ER, 3 BB) 2-0 edge.
In the top of the fourth inning, the Dustdevils battled back and used three-straight hits off of Patriot starter, Sarah Gartman (ND, 0-0: 4.2 IP, 6 H, 3 ER, 4 K, BB) including back-to-back doubles by Morgan Chavarria (1-for-4, 2 R) and Briana Arredondo (2-for-4, 4 RBI, R), respectively, that drove in Chavarria for their first run of the game.
Later in the inning, Heather Ruiz grounded out to the second baseman, but was able to plate home Arredondo and give the Dustdevils a 3-2 advantage.
In the home half of the fourth inning, the Patriots countered and used a Shea Smith single to center field to score Grace Davis and knot the game at three apiece.
In the bottom of the fifth frame, relief pitcher, Denise Longoria (ND, 0-2: 2 IP, 3 H, 3 ER, 2 K, 3 BB) walked a pair of Patriots while the bases were loaded to help extend their lead to three (6-3).
In the bottom of the sixth inning, UT Tyler scored two more runs to give them an 8-3 lead.
The Dustdevils tried to mount a comeback in the final inning as Arredondo stepped up to the plate with the bases loaded and she smacked a bases-clearing double to right field off of Morgan McAlexander (ND, 1-0: 1 IP, 2 H, ER, K, BB) that drove in Chavarria, Erin Mosley and Kristy Alanis to slash their deficit to two runs (8-6).
McAlexander ended up settling down in the circle to settle the 8-6 final.
Game 2: Texas A&M International 15, Texas Woman's 2 (5 Inn.)
The Dustdevils broke the scoring ice in the opening inning off of Pioneer starter, Tatum Stover (L: 1.1 IP, 5 H, 4 ER, 0 K, 0 BB), as Alanis (2-for-3, 2 2B, 3 R, 2 RBI, BB) hit a leadoff double. She later crossed the plate on an Arredondo (4-for-4, 8 RBI, 2 HR, 2 2B) double to left center field.
In the top of the second inning, TAMIU erupted for five runs including a pair of two-RBI doubles by Alanis and Arredondo to give the Dustdevils a commanding 6-0 lead.
In the top of the third frame, Arredondo crushed a three-run home run over the left field fence that extended the Dustdevil lead to nine (9-0).
In the home half of the third inning, Texas Woman's registered a pair of runs off of Dustdevil starter Paige Sasser (W, 1-0: 5 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 2 K, BB) including an RBI single to left field by Tara Solomon that scored Makayla Cook to make it a 6-2 game.
In the top of the fourth inning, the Dustdevils stepped on the gas and compiled six runs off of Pioneer relief pitcher Bailey Tisdale (ND: 3.2 IP, 11 H, 11 R, 8 ER, 4 K, 5 BB). The frame featured a Chavarria double to left center field that plated home Melanie Gamboa and Christina Garcia. Arredondo continued her stellar performance at the plate by smacking a two-run home run, that cleared the left field fence to build a 13-run cushion and would ultimately settle the 15-2 run-rule victory for TAMIU.
The second home run marked Arredondo's first multi-home run game, her first four-hit performance and her career-high eighth run batted in.
In the circle, Sasser tossed three innings without allowing a hit and in two of those innings, she retired the Pioneers in order.
The Dustdevils will wrap up the TAMUC/UT Tyler Invitational tomorrow, Saturday, Feb. 8 with a matchup against Rogers State (4-2) at 10 a.m. followed by a showdown with Arkansas-Monticello (0-1) at 2:30 p.m in Commerce, Texas.
