Sophomore Erika Cortez's complete game, record setting performance on the mound, along with her go-ahead fifth inning home run, led Texas A&M International softball (1-1) to a 4-1 victory over Arkansas Tech (0-2) in game one of the 2021 Lion Invitational. TAMIU then closed day one of the two-day event with a 13-0 loss against host #9 Texas A&M-Commerce (2-0).
 
Game 1: Texas A&M International 4, Arkansas Tech 1
 
Cortez opened the 2021 season in superb fashion both on the mound and at the plate. She produced a line of: 7 IP, 3 H, 1 ER and no walks to go along with a program record 14 strikeouts and a home run offensively.
 
Cortez is only the second TAMIU pitcher to throw 10 or more strikeouts in a game. Krystal De La Cruz is the only other Dustdevil to do so when she had 10 strikeouts twice in the 2016 season.
 
Arkansas Tech opened the scoring in game one with a solo home run by sophomore catcher Morgyn Fulgham in the top of the third inning.
 
After a quiet first three innings, TAMIU senior catcher Shelby Edwards tied the game with a solo home run of her own in the bottom of the fourth.
 
In the bottom of the fifth, Cortez put the Dustdevils in front with her go ahead solo home run and in the sixth inning, Edwards and junior designated player Darrian Smith both collected RBI singles to give TAMIU the insurance runs needed.
 
Edwards finished 2-for-3 at the plate with the home run and two RBI while Smith, Cortez, sophomore third baseman Victoria Maldonado and freshman first baseman Victoria Gonzalez all collected a hit.
 
Game 2: Texas A&M-Commerce 13, Texas A&M International 0 F/5
 
Commerce struck early and often in the opening two innings, scoring 12 runs over the frames in route to the 13-0 victory and no-hit the Dustdevils for the first time since April 6, 2016 when TAMIU fell to Angelo State 9-0 in a six inning game.
 
Junior Darrian Smith got the start on the mound for the Dustdevils and could only make it through 1/3 inning with a line of 4 R, 3 ER, 2 H, 2 BB and 1 K.
 
Sophomore Denise Longoria stepped in relief of Smith with one out in the first and was unable to shut down the Lions who chased Longoria with two outs in the second inning after scoring eight runs. Longoria's night ended with a line of: 1.1 IP, 8 R, 4 ER, 6 H, 2 BB and 1 K.
 
Freshman Chelsea Salinas pitched the final 2.1 innings allowing a run on three hits while striking out two and walking one.
 
Lions pitcher Alyssa LeBlanc was almost perfect, completing the five inning no hitter striking out eight and walking just one Dustdevil.
 
TAMIU heads back to the diamond tomorrow for another two games, starting with a rematch against Arkansas Tech at 10 a.m. and another chance at #9 Texas A&M-Commerce at 12:30.