LUBBOCK, Texas – Texas A&M International baseball opened its series against Lubbock Christian on Saturday in doubleheader action, but it was the Chaps taking both games of the seven inning matchups.
 
GAME 1: Lubbock Christian 12 Texas A&M International 4
 
Lubbock Christian was the first to hit the scoreboard, making it 4-0 in the third inning, plating four runs.
 
TAMIU would respond to the cut deficit in half to 4-2 on a two-run home run by junior Mario Chacon.
 
The Chaps then added a run in the bottom of the fourth to make the score 5-2, but then exploded in the bottom of the sixth inning for seven runs to make it 12-2.
 
The Dustdevils scored their final two runs in the top of the seventh off a two RBI double by junior Antonio Buentello.
 
Freshman Christopher Sauceda got the start for TAMIU and allowed nine runs, eight hits, three walks and struck out six.
 
Sophomore Brandon Salazar pitched an inning of relief, allowing three runs, two hits, one walk and fanned two.
 
Offensively, Buentello's 2-for-4 contributed half of the team's four hits, while Chacon and graduate student Daniel Hernandez each had one.
 
GAME 2: Lubbock Christian 17 Texas A&M International 8
 
TAMIU jumped ahead in the top of the first, 1-0, on an RBI single by junior Matt Kissamis, but Lubbock Christian responded with three in the bottom of the first to take the lead.
 
The Dustdevils took the lead right back with three runs in the second, scoring runs off an RBI single by junior Leeandro Alfonzo, and an RBI by Ronnie Bailey. The third run came in on Bailey's at-bat, scoring on an error.
 
Again in the bottom of the second, the Chaps took the lead, 5-4, scoring two runs, but yet again, TAMIU countered.
 
In the top of the third, TAMIU tied the game 5-5 on Chacon's second home run of the day, a solo shot to left field.
 
Lubbock Christian again responded for three runs in the bottom of the third to take an 8-5 lead.
 
The Dustdevils tied the game again in the top of the fifth inning on a two-run home run by junior Beto Cervantes and an RBI fielder's choice by Kissamis.
 
Unfortunately, for TAMIU, the Chaps plated six in the bottom of the fifth and three more in the bottom of the sixth to seal the victory.
 
Sophomore Jan Cabrera took the mound for the Dustdevils and in three innings, allowed eight runs (six earned), 13 hits, two walks and struck out four.
 
Senior Andrew Pavon and sophomore Rolando Riza combined for 2.1 innings of relief and allowed nine runs, five hits, six walks and fanned three.
 
Junior Steven Grimes threw the final 2/3 inning and allowed one hit.
 
Leading the way at the dish for TAMIU was Alfonzo with a 3-for-5, 3 R, 1 RBI showing. Kissamis (2-for-4, 2 RBI), Chacon (2-for-4, 1 R, 1 RBI) and junior Cameron Yeldell (2-for-4, 1 R) also had a multi-hit game.
 
The Dustdevils return to the field tomorrow at 1 p.m. for the first nine-inning game of the series.