LUBBOCK, TEXAS-- The Dustdevils face nine strikeouts collecting four hits in series finale loss against the Lubbock Christian Chaps final score 5-1 Sunday inside Hays Field.
TAMIU (10-16) scored the first run of the game in the third inning with an RBI single by Saul Soto scoring Roberto Chaparro who got on base with a walk.
Lubbock Christian (14-12) starting pitcher Bryce Nall held the Dustdevils back only allowing three hits through six innings of work with six strikeouts.
In the fourth, the Chaps took a 2-1 lead with an RBI single by Ryan Gargett and an RBI double by Tanner Pachorek.
Chaps pitching held the Dustdevils to only four hits on the day with nine strikeouts. Dustdevils strikeout three and force the Chaps to leave 11 on the bases, recording five runs with 13 hits.
In the top of the ninth, Saul Soto reaches on an error, Asahi Nakano singles, and Giovanni Malatesta walks to load the bases for Eduardo Espinoza. Unfortunately, this led to a ground ball into a 6-4-3 double play ending the ball game 5-1.
The Dustdevils head home to continue conference play against Angelo State over the weekend.
PLAYER SPOTLIGHT: Junior UTL, Saul Soto, went 1-for-4 hitting an RBI in Sunday's contest with four RBIs in the series. He now ties team RBI leader Eddie Saenz with 21 RBIs. Soto is currently hitting .370 on the season. Soto is currently pursuing a degree in Computer Engineering.
