LAREDO, Texas – Sophomore Erika Cortez continued her role on the mound, while three Dustdevils hit home runs to lead Texas A&M International (20-10, 13-5 LSC) to a 10-2 win in six innings over #4 Texas A&M-Commerce (22-9, 15-3 LSC) in game one of the doubleheader. In game two, the Lions used a five run sixth inning to bring home a 7-2 victory.
 
Game 1: Texas A&M International 10, #4 Texas A&M-Commerce 2
 
It was the Lions who struck first in the top of the first with an RBI single to take a 1-0 lead.
 
In the bottom of the second, Cortez singled in the tying run, followed by sophomore Victoria Maldonado's sacrifice fly and an error by A&M-Commerce to give the Dustdevils a 3-1 lead.
 
The Lions had an immediate response in the top of the third with a solo home run to make the score 3-2, but in the bottom of the inning, Smith hit a two run home run to give TAMIU a 5-2 edge.
 
The Dustdevils added two more runs in the bottom of the fourth when Edwards belted a two run home run of her own to make the score 7-2.
 
In the bottom of the sixth, junior Heather Ruiz put the exclamation point on game one with a three run home run to give TAMIU the run rule victory.
 
Cortez (10-4) threw yet another complete game, allowing two runs, four hits, six strikeouts and one walk.
 
Offensively, Smith and freshman Victoria Gonzalez led the way with 2-for-3 efforts, while Smith added the two RBI. Senior Morgan Chavarria went 2-for-4 as the third Dustdevil with two hits and four others sprayed a single hit.
 
Game 2: #4 Texas A&M-Commerce 7, Texas A&M International 2
 
In game two, A&M-Commerce again jumped ahead, this time 2-0 in the top of the first, behind an RBI double and RBI groundout.
 
The Dustdevils wasted no time answering, when Edwards notched a two RBI single to tie the game 2-2.
 
Not until the top of the sixth did a run come across, when the Lions put up five runs to take a 7-2 lead. In the inning, A&M-Commerce received an RBI single and two, two run home runs.
 
Cortez (10-5) started the backend of the doubleheader and in her 5.2 innings allowed six runs, six hits, two walks and struck out three. In relief, Smith threw 1.1 Innings and allowed one run and two hits.

Offensively, Ruiz led the Dustdevils, going 3-for-4, while Edwards in her lone at-bat, drove in two runs on the single. Chavarria and Smith both added a hit to the total for TAMIU as well.
 
TAMIU splits its second consecutive doubleheader against a national ranked team and now welcomes yet another top five opponent in #5 UT Tyler on Sunday April 11. First pitch is scheduled for 11 a.m.