LAREDO, Texas – Texas A&M International baseball (3-4, 3-4 LSC) won the first game of the three-game series 12-6 over Texas A&M-Kingsville (0-1, 0-1 LSC) on Saturday.

This is the first time the Dustdevils have won against the Javelinas since Feb. 24, 2015, when they won 7-2.

TAMIU broke the seal in the first inning to take an early 2-0 lead. Jerry Villareal got things started with a solo homer to straight-away center. Luis Flores drove in Daniel Quiroz with an RBI double down the left field line.

Both pitching staffs proceeded to work the next two innings without giving up a run.

TAMUK got on the board in the top of the fourth to cut the lead to 2-1 with a solo homer to begin the frame. They then proceeded to take their first lead 3-2 with two runs in the fifth. The first run came in on an RBI triple to right center, with the other run coming in on an RBI single to right.

The Dustdevils answered in the bottom half of the fifth with two runs to take the lead back 4-3. Brock Hargens brought in Phillip Sanchez with a two RBI blast over the left field wall.

The Javelinas tied things up 4-4 in the sixth with an RBI single to left.

TAMIU exploded for five runs in the sixth to go back up 9-4. Ronnie Bailey brought in Ariben Gutierrez with an RBI single to center. Flores plated Villareal with an RBI single to center. A Sanchez two RBI single to center scored Bailey and Flores. The final run of the inning came in on a Hargens sacrifice fly to left plating Sergio Esqueda.

The Dustdevils added to their lead in the seventh with two more runs to push out to 11-4 advantage. A Flores two RBI single to left brought home Gutierrez and Bailey. 

TAMUK cut into the margin in the eighth with two runs to trim the lead to 11-6. A RBI groundout to short scored one run, with the other run coming in on a RBI single to first.

The Dustdevils scored their final run and claimed the victory 12-6 in the bottom of the eighth. Villareal plated Sanchez on a sacrifice fly to center.

Andrew Pavon (1-0) earned the win with 1.0 inning pitched and only allowing two hits with one unearned run and two strikeouts. Kolby Lunsford (0-1) suffered the loss.

TAMIU will look the clinch the series in the second game of the series tomorrow. First pitch is set for 2:30 p.m.