SAN ANGELO, Texas - Sophomore Erika Cortez struck out 11 in a complete game and Texas A&M International (3-3) scored six runs in the final two innings to upset #9 Angelo State (2-2) to open the ASU George & Ola McCorkle Challenge in San Angelo, Texas. In its second game of the day, TAMIU used a five run bottom of the first to propel itself to an 8-6 win over UT Permian Basin (0-6).
 
Game 1: Texas A&M International 9, #9 Angelo State 5
 
TAMIU opened the ASU Challenge with an early season upset victory over host #9 Angelo State. This was the 13th victory for the Dustdevils over a ranked opponent since 2013.
 
The Dustdevils opened the scoring in the top of the first when senior Morgan Chavarria scored on a wild pitch.
 
Angelo State immediately responded over the first two frames, scoring four runs to take the 4-1 lead. In the bottom of the first inning, Courtney Barnhill gave the Rambelles a 2-1 lead after driving in a run and scoring on an error on the same play.
 
In the bottom of the second, Madison Fernandez and Jade Strother both hit solo home runs to take the 4-1 lead.
 
The Dustdevils trimmed the deficit to 4-3 in the fourth when freshman Victoria Gonzalez singled in a run and sophomore Sarah Chavez also scored in the inning on an error.
 
Ashlynn Box gave the Rambelles a 5-3 in the bottom of the fifth when she drove in a run on an RBI single
 
The Dustdevils cut the deficit to 5-4 in the sixth when Gonzalez singled in a run. In the seventh inning, the Dustdevils erupted for five runs, behind an RBI double by Chavarria, a two RBI double by sophomore Victoria Maldonado and another RBI hit by Gonzalez.
 
Sophomore Erika Cortez pitched well for the Dustdevils, throwing a complete game. She allowed five runs, nine hits and struck out 11, her second double-digit strikeout performance of the season.
 
Gonzalez finished game one going 3-for-4 with three RBI and a double. Maldonado, Chavarria and junior Briana Arredondo all collected two hits as well.
 
Game 2: Texas A&M International 8, UT Permian Basin 6
 
The Dustdevils started the scoring immediately in the bottom of the first inning taking a 5-0 lead.
 
Gonzalez continued her hot start to the ASU Challenge, notching a two RBI double to open the scoring. Senior Christina Garcia followed with a two RBI single to grow the lead to 4-0, while fellow senior Melanie Lint drove in the fifth run of the inning on a fielder's choice.
 
UT Permian Basintrimmed the lead to 5-4 in the top of the third inning. Valerie Gonzalez and April Arellano both drove in two runs on RBI doubles in the frame.
 
The Falcons tied the game in the top of the fourth when Valerie Gonzalez drove in a run by way of a groundout.
 
TAMIU immediately responded in the bottom of the fourth behind a wild pitch that scored Garcia and a two RBI single by Arredondo to take an 8-5 lead.
 
UT Permian Basin crossed one more runner across the plate in the top of the fifth, but were stifled by Dustdevil pitching the remaining two frames.  
 
Junior Darrian Smith got the start on the mound for the Dustdevils and received the win. In her four innings of work, Smith allowed five runs, eight hits, one walk and struck out three.
 
In relief, freshman Chelsea Salinas threw three strong innings, allowing one run, one hit and struck out three as well to record the save.
 
Offensively, Garcia (2-for-3) and Arredondo (2-for-4) led the way and each contributed two RBI. Gonzalez also added two RBI in a 1-for-4 outing and senior Shelby Edwards, junior Darrian Smith and Salinas all added a hit to the line score.