CONROE, Texas – Texas A&M International softball opened the 2022 campaign in the Arkansas Tech Winter Invitational in Conroe, Texas. Unfortunately for TAMIU, the Dustdevils would fall in both games to #2 Augustana (S.D.) and Harding.
 
Game 1: #2 Augustana (S.D.) 10, Texas A&M International 1 F/5
 
Augustana jumped ahead early, scoring two runs in the bottom of the first to take the lead.
 
The Vikings would add to the lead in the third inning with two more runs to open the lead to 4-0.
 
In the top of the fourth, TAMIU finally broke through, as junior Briana Arredondo singled in Heather Ruiz to make the score 4-1.
 
However, in the bottom of the fourth, Augustana exploded for six runs and then held the Dustdevils in the top of the fifth to take the 10-1 victory in five innings.
 
Junior Darrian Smith drew the start for TAMIU and pitched three innings and allowed eight runs (six earned), six hits, five walks and four strikeouts.
 
In relief, junior Carla Arellano allowed two runs (one earned), four hits and a walk.
 
Offensively, Arredondo and freshmen Kristin Maldonado and Sara Papizan all collected a hit each, with Arredondo driving in the lone run.
 
Game 2: Harding 14, Texas A&M International 6 F/6
 
Having to put the defeat behind them quickly, the Dustdevils jumped ahead immediately in the top of the first of game two to take a 1-0, when sophomore Alex Hernandez scored on a throwing error.
 
However, Harding responded to tie the game 1-1 in the bottom of the first, then proceeded to take a 3-1 lead in the second inning and grew that lead to 8-1 by the end of the third.
 
TAMIU chipped away at the deficit with three runs in the top of the fourth to make it 8-4.
 
Graduate student Melanie Gamboa singled in fellow graduate student Victoria Maldonado to make it 8-2, then Hernandez doubled in Gamboa and Papizan to make it a four run game.
 
In the bottom of the inning, Harding added four runs and took its largest lead at 12-4.
The Dustdevils again chipped away in the top of the fifth when Arredondo hit a two-run home run to cut the score to 12-6, but the Lady Bison scored a single run in the bottom of the fifth and sixth to seal the victory.
 
Sophomore Chelsea Salinas got the start and in two innings allowed four runs (three earned), three hits and four walks.
 
Papizan entered in relief and allowed eight runs (three earned), six hits, one walk and struck out four over 1.2 innings.
 
Arellano and sophomore Victoria Gonzalez combined to throw the final 1.1 innings and allowed two runs (one earned), two hits and Arellano had both strikeouts between the two.

On offense, Gamboa and Hernandez led the way going 2-for-4 with two RBI and 2-for-3 with one RBI respectively.
 
Arredondo finished 1-for-3 with the two RBI homer and Victoria Maldonado, Smith, Papizan and junior Heather Ruiz all added a single hit as well.
 
Day two of the tournament takes place tomorrow as TAMIU meets Southeastern Oklahoma State and then another nationally ranked matchup against #20 Central Oklahoma. The games are slated for 1 p.m. and 3 p.m., but are subject to change.