PORTLAND, Texas – Texas A&M International softball earned its first sweep of a doubleheader on Saturday, defeating Henderson State, 5-3 in game one, following that up with another stellar pitching performance by junior Darrian Smith to defeat Hillsdale 4-1.

Game 1: Texas A&M International 5, Henderson State 3
 
TAMIU scored immediately in the top of the first, taking a 2-0 lead early.
 
Freshman Kristin Maldonado, hitting second in the order, tripled in sophomore Alex Hernandez to make it 1-0 and junior Heather Ruiz followed immediately after with a sacrifice fly.
 
Henderson State responded to tie the game in the bottom of the first, and after three scoreless innings took a 3-2 lead in the fifth.
 
After four quiet innings from the Dustdevil offense, they regained the lead in the top of the sixth, 4-3, off a pinch-hit, two RBI single by freshman Dynasty Harpel.
 
TAMIU added an insurance run in the top of the seventh when Ruiz singled in Hernandez.
 
Sophomore Victoria Gonzalez got the start in the circle and allowed three runs, four hits, two walks and struck out three in the no decision.
 
Smith earned the victory in relief, throwing three innings, allowing two hits and striking out six.
 
Offensively, Smith finished 2-for-3 with a double, triple, a walk and a run scored, while Kristin Maldonado finished 2-for-4 at the plate with a triple, run scored and an RBI.
 
Four other Dustdevils added a hit to the stat sheet as well.

Game 2: Texas A&M International 4, Hillsdale 1
 
In a rematch of Friday's second game that Hillsdale won 5-3, TAMIU avenged the loss, coming out victorious in game two on Saturday.
 
After a scoreless first inning, it was the Chargers taking the lead in the top of the second inning, 1-0.
 
The Dustdevils wasted no time jumping ahead, scoring all four of their runs in the bottom of the second inning.
 
After back-to-back walks opened the inning, Gonzalez drove in junior Briana Arredondo on an RBI single to tie the game 1-1.
 
Senior Christina Garcia followed up two batters later with a two RBI double to give TAMIU the 3-1 lead.
 
Graduate student Melanie Gamboa then followed Garcia with an RBI single to round out the game's scoring.
 
Smith got the start on the mound and threw her second complete game of the tournament, a complete game performance in which she allowed one run, two hits, three walks and struck out eight.
 
Offensively, Gonzalez went a perfect 3-for-3 with a run scored and an RBI. She paced the way for the Dustdevils who collected seven total hits in the game, with Kristin Maldonado, Smith, Garcia and Gamboa each having one hit of their own.
 
After a successful day two of the tournament, TAMIU now looks to close out the Texas A&M-Kingsville Tournament in Portland, Texas with a three-game winning streak as they face Lone Star Conference foe St. Mary's, tomorrow, Feb. 13 at 12:30 p.m.