LAREDO, Texas — Texas A&M International mounted a mid-game push but was unable to overcome a pair of big innings from Texas-Dallas, falling 17-5 on Sunday at Jorge Haynes Field.
UT Dallas (26-8) used a five-run fourth inning and a seven-run eighth to pull away, finishing with 17 hits on the afternoon.
The Comets got on the board in the second with a solo home run and steadily built momentum, capitalizing on walks and timely hitting to take a 7-0 lead through four innings.
TAMIU (11-23) answered in the fifth inning when David Benitez led off with a double and came around to score on an RBI single from Ciro Benavides. A sacrifice fly from Eddie Saenz cut the deficit to 9-2.
The Dustdevils continued to chip away in the sixth as Jacob Angell delivered an RBI triple to center field, making it 10-3.
In the seventh, TAMIU showed more fight, scoring two runs behind an RBI walk from Giovanni Malatesta and a sacrifice fly by Asahi Nakano to trim the lead to 10-5.
However, UT Dallas responded with a decisive seven-run eighth inning, stringing together multiple hits to put the game out of reach.
Ciro Benavides led the Dustdevils at the plate, going 3-for-5 with two runs scored and an RBI. David Benitez added two hits and a run, while Jacob Angell contributed an RBI triple.
Rudy Guardiola (0-2) took the loss for TAMIU after allowing four runs in three innings of work.
Texas A&M International will look to regroup as it continues Lone Star Conference play this coming week.
PLAYER SPOTLIGHT: Ciro Benavides is a Senior second baseman for Texas A&M International University and is currently pursuing a degree in Criminal Justice. A native of Laredo, Texas, Benavides is the Son of Ciro T. Benavides and Diana Loera and was born November 8, 2004.
Benavides continued his strong stretch at the plate, going 3-for-5 with two runs scored and an RBI. He sparked the Dustdevils' offense in the fifth inning with an RBI single and consistently put pressure on UT Dallas with quality at-bats throughout the game.
