LAREDO, Texas – Texas A&M International baseball concluded its season series against the UT Permian Basin Falcons and much like the doubleheader, dominated the Falcons, 9-3.
 
TAMIU (3-1, 3-1 LSC) wasted no time getting to work, scoring three runs in the bottom of the first after senior Joseph Garza-Delapena set down UTPB (1-3, 1-3 LSC), 1-2-3 in the top of the first.
 
Graduate student Daniel Hernandez started the scoring with a solo home run, to give the Dustdevils a 1-0 lead just two batters in.
 
Junior Mario Chacon followed just three batters later with an RBI single, and senior Brock Hargens drew a walk leading to a run.
 
TAMIU added to its lead in the bottom of the second inning, when Chacon drove in a run on a walk and junior Antonio Buentello brought in a run on a sacrifice fly to make it a 5-0 game.
 
The lead grew to 7-0 in the fourth inning, when junior Matt Kissamis scored on a wild pitch, followed by a sacrifice fly by senior Ariben Gutierrez.
 
The Falcons scored their first run in the fifth inning after three consecutive singles to make the score 7-1.
 
The Dustdevils would get that run back, plus another, scoring their final two runs of the game in the bottom of the sixth.
 
Buentello doubled in Chacon to make the score 8-1, followed by Gutierrez singling in Buentello to make it 9-1.
 
UTPB scored the final runs of the game in the bottom of the ninth with a two-run home run to make it the final of 9-3.
 
Garza-Delapena earned the victory, allowing just two hits and striking out four over four innings.
 
Sophomore Rolando Riza pitched three innings in relief, allowing one run, three hits and three strikeouts, while fellow sophomore Adrian Talavera walked one and struck out one in one inning.
 
Senior Andrew Pavon allowed two runs, four hits and struck out two to end the game.
 
At the plate, Buentello led the way with a 2-for-2 showing, scoring two runs and driving in two as well.
 
Chacon would finish with a 2-for-3 day at the dish with two runs and two RBI as well, while Gutierrez drove in two, going 1-for-3.
 
After a successful opening weekend, the Dustdevils now prepare for a solid, early season challenge against UT Tyler in Tyler, Texas. Game one of the four-game weekend set is slated for 7 p.m.