LAREDO, Texas – Texas A&M International battled back late but couldn't overcome a ninth-inning surge from Texas Permian Basin, falling 10–8 on Saturday afternoon at Jorge Haynes Field.
The Falcons used a three-run eighth and another three-run ninth to pull away, finishing with 10 runs on nine hits, while the Dustdevils scored eight runs on five hits.
TAMIU jumped out to an early 2–0 lead in the first inning. Ciro Benavides singled to start the rally and later scored on a passed ball, and Iann Cobos followed with an RBI single to give the Dustdevils the advantage.
Texas Permian Basin answered with two runs in the fourth to tie the game, but TAMIU responded in the bottom half as Asahi Nakano came around to score on a wild pitch to restore a 3–2 lead. The Falcons evened the score again in the fifth before the Dustdevils regained the lead at 4–3 on an RBI single from Eddie Saenz.
After the teams traded runs, TAMIU appeared to seize momentum in the seventh. The Dustdevils pushed across two runs, including a sacrifice fly from Jesus Sosa, to take a 6–4 lead heading into the late innings.
The Falcons flipped the script in the eighth. With two runners on, Gael Bernal launched a three-run home run to put Tex. Permian Basin in front, 7–6. The visitors added three more runs in the ninth, capitalizing on a TAMIU error and a two-run double to extend the lead to 10–6.
TAMIU mounted a final push in the bottom of the ninth. Benavides and Saul Soto were both hit by pitches to start the inning, and two unearned runs came across on an error to cut the deficit to 10–8. However, the rally stalled with a strikeout and lineout to end the game.
Benavides paced the Dustdevils offensively, scoring four runs, while Saenz added an RBI single. Cobos also drove in a run for TAMIU.
On the mound, Dylan Kinney worked 5.1 innings with seven strikeouts, allowing three earned runs. Billy Winans took the loss after surrendering three runs in the eighth inning. Texas Permian Basin's Sebastian Lozoya earned the win in relief, tossing 1.2 scoreless innings.
The final game of the 3-game series takes place Sunday afternoon at 1pm at Jorge Haynes Field.
PLAYER SPOTLIGHT: Ciro Benavides, Senior, a native of Laredo, TX played high school baseball at JB Alexander High School. He is the son of Ciro T. Benavides and Diana I. Loera. He is pursuing his degree in Criminal Justice.
Benavides reached base multiple times and scored four of the Dustdevils' eight runs, setting the table all afternoon and sparking TAMIU's ninth-inning rally.
