LAREDO, Texas – Texas A&M International softball split its doubleheader on Saturday against nationally ranked, #19 Oklahoma Christian, falling in game one 6-3, before walking it off in game two 3-2 in eight innings.

GAME 1: #19 Oklahoma Christian 6 TAMIU 3

Oklahoma Christian (10-4, 5-3 LSC) opened game one with a pair of runs crossing on a two RBI double to lead 2-0 right away.

TAMIU (8-11, 4-4 LSC) cut the deficit in half in the bottom of the inning when freshman Kennedy Griego made it 2-1 on an RBI groundout.

The Eagles would add a run in the fifth inning with an RBI single and grew the lead to 3-1.

The Dustdevils, after four scoreless at-bats, tied the game in the bottom of the sixth, when Griego again drove in a run with a single, while a second run scored after an Oklahoma Christian error, making it 3-3.

In the top of the seventh, the Eagles punctuated the game with a three-run home run to take the 6-3 lead.

Junior Erika Cortez got the start for the Dustdevils, and in the complete game allowed six runs, eight hits, three walks and struck out four.

As a unit, TAMIU had three hits offensively, with Griego, Cortez and graduate Victoria Maldonado all with one each.

GAME 2: TAMIU 3 #19 Oklahoma Christian 2 F/8

Oklahoma Christian again was the first to reach the board in game two, taking a 1-0 lead in the third on a sacrifice fly, then making it 2-0 in the fourth inning with an RBI single.

The Dustdevils would cut the deficit in half in the bottom of the fifth, when junior Kristy Alanis drove in a run on a fielder's choice to make it 2-1.

TAMIU tied the game 2-2 in the bottom of the sixth when Griego picked up her third RBI between the two games with an RBI single.

In the bottom of the eighth, sophomore Kristen Maldonado opened the inning being hit by a pitch, then was moved up to second on a sacrifice bunt, then to third on a groundout.

The Eagles would then elect to intentionally walk Griego and senior Darrian Smith, the four and five hitters in the lineup, then sophomore Eva Garcia re-entered the game and drove in the winning run on a walk-off walk.

Sophomore Carla Arellano was great again for TAMIU in the circle, throwing the eight-inning complete game, allowing two runs, eight hits, one walk and struck out two.

The Dustdevils collected seven hits in the back half of the doubleheader, with sophomore Tajanae Davis going 3-for-3 at the plate, while four others also tallied a hit.

TAMIU concludes the series against Oklahoma Christian on Sunday, Feb. 26 at 11 a.m.