LAREDO, Texas – Texas A&M International baseball rallied in the ninth inning, but fell just a run short of tying St. Edward's, falling to the Hilltoppers 8-7 to open the weekend series.
 
St. Edward's jumped ahead in the third inning to make it 1-0, then added five runs in the top of the fourth to take a 6-0 lead.
 
TAMIU trimmed the deficit to 6-2 in the bottom of the sixth inning, with RBI singles from senior Ariben Gutierrez and junior Matt Kissamis.
 
The Hilltoppers earned those runs back in the top of the seventh, regaining a six run edge at 8-2.
 
The Dustdevils plated a run in the seventh, with an RBI groundout by junior Mario Chacon, then the rally began in the bottom of the ninth.
 
Junior Leo Alfonzo opened the scoring with an RBI single to cut the deficit in half to 8-4. A few batters later, junior Beto Cervantes belted a three-run pinch hit homer to make the score 8-7.
 
TAMIU then got a runner on second base, but unfortunately was left stranded.
 
Freshman Christopher Sauceda got the nod and in four innings, allowed six runs (five earned), seven hits, three walks and struck out four.
 
Sophomore Andrew Delgadillo threw two innings of one hit relief, walking one and fanning one.
 
Junior Steven Grimes allowed two runs and two hits in one inning, while freshman Tristan Cavazos Reichwald threw two hitless innings, walking two and striking out one.
 
The Dustdevils had 11 hits, with Kissamis, senior's Ronnie Bailey and Brock Hargens, as well as junior Isaac Gonzalez all having two hits each
 
TAMIU now looks ahead to its doubleheader against St. Edward's on Saturday, Apr. 9, beginning at 1:30 p.m.