TYLER, Texas – Texas A&M International baseball held a six inning lead, but a nine run bottom of the sixth inning pushed UT Tyler past the Dustdevils, 13-3 in eight innings.
 
TAMIU (4-4, 4-4 LSC) jumped ahead early, scoring all three of their runs in the first and second innings.
 
Junior Matt Kissamis opened the scoring with a two RBI double in the first inning and the lead then grew to 3-0 in the second inning on an RBI single by fellow junior Isaac Gonzalez.
 
Over the first five innings, senior Joseph Garza- Delapena was stellar on the mound, limiting the Patriots (5-3, 5-3 LSC) to just one run.
 
The six inning was when UT Tyler did its damage, scoring nine runs in the inning, forcing the Dustdevils to use a total of five pitchers in the frame.
 
The Patriots then added three runs in the eighth inning to seal the victory and take the season series from TAMIU, 3-1.
 
Garza-Delapena pitched five-plus innings in the start and allowed three runs, four hits, three walks and struck out five.
 
Four Dustdevils combined for 2.2 innings and allowed 10 runs (six earned), four walks and one strikeout.
 
At the plate, graduate student Dan Hernandez led the team with a 2-for-4 day and a run scored, while four others combined for a single hit each.
 
The Dustdevils prepare for a quick turnaround, as they face Texas A&M-Kingsville in non-conference action on Wednesday, Feb. 16. First pitch from Jorge Haynes Field is scheduled for 2 p.m.