LAREDO, Texas – Texas A&M International softball (12-8, 6-4 LSC) set the tone in the first, while junior Darrian Smith, sophomore Paige Sasser and senior Melanie Lint shut down the Eastern New Mexico offense, en route to a 12-0 victory in run rule fashion.
 
TAMIU wasted no time jumping in front of the Greyhounds (0-10, 0-11 LSC), scoring four runs in the top of the first inning.
 
Smith opened the scoring notching an RBI single and was followed by junior Briana Arredondo who hit her second three run home run in as many days to make the score 4-0.
 
The Dustdevils upped the lead to 7-0 in the bottom of the second inning thanks to a two run home run by junior Heather Ruiz and an RBI double by Smith.
 
Senior Morgan Chavarria added to TAMIU's led in the bottom of the third, making it 11-0 after hitting a grand slam, her fourth home run of the season.
 
Arredondo added one more in the frame, making it 12-0 on an RBI single.
 
TAMIU added two more runs in the bottom of the fourth inning to make it 14-0 when junior Denise Longoria scored on a Greyhound error and freshman Victoria Gonzalez singled in a run.
 
Eastern New Mexico scored all three of its runs in the top of the fifth on an RBI groundout by Alanna Larkins and the other two runs scoring on a Dustdevil error.
 
Smith (2-1) took the victory on the mound, throwing three innings, allowing just one hit, a walk and a strikeout.
 
Sasser and Lint combined to allow three unearned runs, three hits, two walks and two strikeouts in two innings of relief.
 
Offensively, Ruiz led the way with a 3-for-4 outing and two RBI, while Arredondo (2-for-3, 4 RBI) and Smith (2-for-3, 3 RBI) were the other Dustdevils with a multi-hit game. Chavarria, like Arredondo, also had 4 RBI.
 
The Dustdevils return to action tomorrow at 11 a.m., at home, against Eastern New Mexico in a conference doubleheader showdown.