LAREDO, Texas – Texas A&M International baseball reached the double-digit win plateau in conference play for the first time since 2013, defeating St. Mary's, 10-5 to win the season series 3-1.
 
In the top of the first, the Rattlers (5-13, 3-13 LSC) jumped ahead and took a 2-0 lead.
 
For the third time in the series, TAMIU (10-12, 10-10 LSC) put up at least four runs in the bottom of the first, taking a 4-2 lead.
 
Graduate student Daniel Hernandez drove in two runs on a double to tie the game, followed by a two RBI single from senior Brock Hargens to give the Dustdevils the lead.
 
St. Mary's trimmed the deficit to 4-3 on a home run in the top of the fourth, but TAMIU got two runs in the bottom of the fifth inning on RBI singles from senior Ariben Gutierrez and graduate student Sergio Esqueda.
 
The Rattlers managed to tie the game in the seventh inning on two RBI groundouts, but in the bottom of the eighth, the Dustdevils put up a five spot to seal the victory.
 
In the inning, senior Ronnie Bailey started the scoring by drawing a walk to score a run with the bases loaded, then junior Matt Kissamis notched an RBI single, followed by a run scoring on a wild pitch and a sacrifice fly by junior Antonio Buentello.
 
Senior Joseph Garza-Delapena took the bump for TAMIU and in 6+ innings of work, allowed four runs, four hits, two walks and four strikeouts.
 
Sophomore Andrew Delgadillo pitched three innings of relief and allowed one run and two hits.
 
The Dustdevils collected 12 hits as a team, with junior Leeandro Alfonzo leading the way with a 3-for-5 day, while Hernandez, Bailey and Gutierrez all had two hits apiece.
 
TAMIU now turns its focus to nationally ranked Lubbock Christian as it faces the Chaps on the road this coming weekend. The four game series begins on Friday, Mar. 11 and first pitch from Lubbock, Texas is at 6 p.m.