SAN ANGELO, Texas – Texas A&M International softball opened its five game weekend in the Angelo State Invitational splitting a doubleheader, defeating New Mexico Highlands 3-2 in eight innings and then losing a heartbreaker to #9 Angelo State 3-2.

Game 1: Texas A&M International 3, New Mexico Highlands 2
 
In the bottom of the first inning, New Mexico Highlands took a 1-0 lead and were then held in check over the next four innings, allowing TAMIU to take charge.
 
It took until the top of the fifth for the Dustdevils to push a run across the plate, taking a 2-1 lead in the inning.
 
Freshman Dynasty Harpel drove in the tying and leading run with a two RBI double.
 
The Cowgirls would respond to tie the game 2-2 in the bottom of the sixth, helping force extra innings, but only one extra frame was needed as junior Darrian Smith earned the game-winning hit in the top of the eighth on an RBI double that scored fellow junior Heather Ruiz.
 
Sophomore Victoria Gonzalez got the start in the circle and threw 5+ innings allowing two runs, five hits, three walks and struck out one.
 
Freshman Sara Papizan earned the victory in relief, allowing just two hits and striking out four over three innings of work.
 
Offensively, Ruiz had another multi-hit game going 2-for-3 and scoring the winning run, while five other Dustdevils contributed a hit.

Game 2: #9 Angelo State 3, Texas A&M International 2
 
In the second game of the day it was TAMIU jumping ahead immediately, when junior Briana Arredondo doubled in Ruiz to make the score 1-0 in the top of the first inning.
 
The Dustdevils added their second and final run of the game in the fourth inning, thanks to a sacrifice fly by Harpel that scored sophomore Kristy Alanis.
 
Angelo State, however, chipped away by scoring a single run in the fifth, the tying run in the sixth and walked-off with the victory in the seventh inning.
 
Smith got the start in the circle and was stellar for TAMIU. She took a pitched a perfect game through 4.1 innings and overall threw a complete game, allowing three runs (two earned), four hits, one walk and four strikeouts.
 
Offensively, seven Dustdevils earned a single hit, with Arredondo, Gonzalez and freshmen Alex Hernandez and Kristin Maldonado hitting a double each.
 
TAMIU has the same schedule ahead of them tomorrow, Saturday Feb. 19, just different times await. The Dustdevils will meet New Mexico Highlands again at noon, followed by another rematch against #9 Angelo State at 4:30 p.m.