SILVER CITY, N.M – Texas A&M International softball (16-8, 10-4 LSC) struck for 11 runs in the fifth and sixth innings to take a 13-2 victory in game one of its doubleheader against Western New Mexico (1-13, 1-13 LSC). In game two, the Dustdevils scored another 16 runs en route to another six inning victory, 16-5.
 
Game 1: Texas A&M International 13, Western New Mexico 2 F/6
 
TAMIU jumped in front immediately, taking a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first and extended it to 2-0 in the top of the second inning.
 
Freshman Victoria Gonzalez drove in junior Heather Ruiz in the top of the first with an RBI single. In the second inning, sophomore Erika Cortez homered to centerfield for the 2-0 lead.
 
In the bottom of the third, the Mustangs cut the deficit to 2-1 thanks to a solo home run by Nikki Medina.
 
The Dustdevils then exploded for 11 runs in the fifth and sixth innings to take a 13-1 lead.
 
In the top of the fifth, senior Shelby Edwards made it 3-1 and Gonzalez notched a two RBI double to make it 5-1. Junior's Darrian Smith (two run home run) and Briana Arredondo (solo home run) followed with back-to-back blasts to make it 8-1.
 
TAMIU continued its offensive rally in the top sixth, scoring five more runs to take a commanding lead.
 
Edwards again opened the scoring with an RBI double to make it 9-1 and Smith hit an RBI single to make it 10-1. Arredondo capped off the inning with her second home run of the game, a three run home run.
 
Western New Mexico added a single run in the bottom of the sixth to make the final score 13-2.
 
Cortez (8-4) was strong yet again for TAMIU, winning her fourth straight start, throwing a complete game, allowing two runs, seven hits, a walk and struck out eight.
 
Offensively, Arredondo (3-for-4, 4 RBI), Gonzalez (3-for-4, 3 RBI) and Ruiz (3-for-4) led the way. Edwards (2-for-4, 2 RBI) and Smith (2-for-4, 3 RBI) also contributed multi-hit games.
 
Game 2: Texas A&M International 16, Western New Mexico 5 F/6
 
In game two, the Dustdevils offense continued to tack on runs, taking a 3-0 lead immediately in the top of the first inning.
 
Edwards opened the scoring, driving in two runs on a triple that scored senior Morgan Chavarria and freshman Chelsea Salinas. Three batters later, Arredondo drove in the third run of the inning on an RBI single that scored Gonzalez.
 
The Mustangs cut the deficit to 3-1 in the bottom of the second on a Kaila Burnett RBI single.
 
TAMIU wasted no time jumping farther in front, when in the top of the third, sophomore Victoria Maldonado drew a bases loaded walk and junior Denise Longoria followed with a grand slam to make the score 8-1.
 
In the bottom of the fourth, Briteny Hickman drove in two for Western New Mexico with a single to make the score 8-3, but the Dustdevils countered in the top of the fifth inning with back-to-back solo home runs by Smith and Arredondo to make the score 10-3.
 
The Mustangs kept fighting back, cutting the lead down to five yet again on a two RBI single by Samantha Corral in the bottom of the fifth inning.
 
The Dustdevils then struck for six runs in the top of the sixth to make it 16-5.
 
Edwards opened the scoring with an RBI double, followed by back-to-back RBI singles from Smith and Arredondo. Longoria capped off the game with her second home run of the game, a three run home run.
 
Salinas (3-1) got the start for the Dustdevils and threw 4.1 innings, allowing five runs, six hits, three walks and struck out two. Longoria pitched in relief, throwing 1.2 innings allowing just two hits.
 
Offensively, Arredondo (3-for-4, 3 RBI), Edwards (3-for-4, 3 RBI) and Gonzalez (3-for-4) led the way in hits, while Longoria (2-for-3, 7 RBI) and Smith (2-for-3, 2 RBI) added multiple hits to the ledger as well.
 
Now winners of eight of their last nine games, with a current five game winning streak, the Dustdevils prepare to conclude the weekend road trip in Odessa, Texas against UT Permian Basin on Sunday March 28. First pitch for game one of the doubleheader is set for 12 p.m.