LAREDO, Texas -- Texas A&M International swept the Lone Star Conference opening doubleheader from Midwestern State Friday afternoon at Dustdevil Field.
TAMIU junior Erika Cortez weaved a one-hit shutout to lead the Dustdevils to a 4-0 win Game 1, then Texas A&M International rode a five-run third inning to take the nightcap, 5-2.
The Dustdevils improved 6-7 on the season and 2-0 in league play, while MSU dropped to 1-8 and 0-2.
Midwestern State and Texas A&M International conclude the series with a single game on Saturday in Laredo. First pitch is set for noon.
GAME 1 | Texas A&M International 4, Midwestern State 0
Texas A&M International junior Erika Cortez weaved a one-hit shutout and Jazmyn connected on a pinch-hit, two-run homer to lift the Dustdevils to a 4-0 win in Game 1.
Cortez (3-2) recorded eight strikeouts en route to her third shutout of the season limiting the Mustangs to a single hit -- a two-out single up the middle by Jessika Roberts in the third inning.
TAMIU's Kristin Maldonado and Tajanae Davis each delivered run-scoring singles to take Cortez and the Dustdevils to a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the third.
An inning later, Cameron belted her second homer of the season over the center-field fence to extend TAMIU's lead to 4-0.
Six different Dustdevils recorded hits, while the Mustangs managed just three base runners.
MSU senior Payton Griffin was hit by pitch in the second and fourth innings in addition to Roberts, who singled up the middle in the top of the third inning.
Sophomore Taylor McKenzie (0-3) took the loss in the circle allowing three earned runs on six hits in 3 2/3 innings.
GAME 2 | Texas A&M International 7, Midwestern State 3
Midwestern State's Lexi Mills polished off a three-hit game with a two-run home run in the seventh inning in the nightcap Friday against Texas A&M International.
But the long all wasn't enough to offset a big inning by the Dustdevils, who completed the sweep with a 7-2 victory.
Mills drove in all three runs for the Mustangs beginning with an RBI-single in the third inning before launching a two-run shot over the left-field fence in the seventh.
Texas A&M International took control of the game with a five-run third inning spearheaded by Tajanae Davis' two-run double to the right-field gap. Kennedy Greigo and Victroia Espinoza tacked on two more runs on run-scoring singles as TAMIU expanded its lead to 6-1.
Brigette Montes tacked on another run with a pinch-hit, RBI single in the sixth inning to push the TAMIU lead to six runs at 7-1.
TAMIU senior Darrian Smith (2-3) earned the win in the circle holding the Mustangs to two earned runs on seven hits while going the distance. She recorded four strikeouts.
Junior Levi Luna (0-1) took the loss for MSU allowing four earned runs on five hits in 1 1/3 relief innings.
Freshman catcher Megan Ayala went 2-for-3 as part of MSU's seven-hit attack.
GAME NOTES
- Junior
Lexi Mills matched a team single-game, season high with three hits and is the first Mustang to drive in three runs in a game this season.
- Mills and freshman
Megan Ayala each recorded their second multiple-hit game of the season.
- Freshman
Jasmine Trevino pitched 2 1/3 innings of hitless relief in Game 1. She has allowed a single hit over seven innings and three relief appearances this season.
- Freshman catcher
Megan Ayala went 2-for-4 during Friday's doubleheader to raise her season batting average to a team-high .429.
Â
-- MSUMustangs.com --