Baseball Scores Three in Ninth to Down OPSU

April 1, 2012

Final Stats

GOODWELL, Okla. - The Texas A&M International University baseball team kept their hopes for a postseason berth alive, completing the series sweep over Oklahoma Panhandle State with an 8-6 win Saturday afternoon.

With the game tied at five heading into the ninth, the Dustdevils scored three runs in the top half of the frame and held the Aggies to only one in the bottom half to secure the victory. TAMIU improves to 10-14 in conference play but remains 1 ½ games behind Arkansas Fort-Smith for the fourth and final playoff spot in the conference standings.

The Dusdevils hammered out ten hits in the final game versus OPSU led by Ramon Sandoval who went 2-4 with three RBI and a run scored. Jeff Anderson went 2-3 with a run scored, Jeremy Olivo was 2-5 with an RBI and two runs scored and Will Wurth was 1-3 with two RBI.

Manolo Mendoza went 5.1 innings for the Dustdevils giving up four runs on three hits with three strikeouts and two walks. Reliever Ryan Williams came on in the sixth and allowed only one run on one hit through 2.1 innings and Danny Navarro picked up the win giving up one run on four hits in 1.1 innings of work.

The Dustdevils scored in each of the first four innings to grab a 5-2 lead, before OPSU scored three unanswered in the fourth, sixth and eighth to tie the game at five.

In the ninth Jeff Anderson started the rally with a lead-off double into left field and advanced to third on a bunt single by Jeremy Olivo. Will Wurth plated Anderson on a sacrifice fly and after Alex Salas drew a walk, Roberto Castillo scored Olivo on a single back up the middle. Ramon Sandoval pushed the final run of the inning across for TAMIU, scoring Salas on a sacrifice fly to center field.

The Aggies managed to string together three hits in the bottom half of the ninth, but Navarro kept the damage to a minimum allowing only one run to wrap up the game.

The stage is now set for a huge weekend series starting Friday, April 6 between TAMIU and Arkansas Fort-Smith. The Dustdevils host the Lions in a three-game series with a chance to overtake the Lions in the race for a playoff bid. First pitch for game one of Friday's doubleheader is scheduled for 12:00 p.m. with game two slated for a 3:00 p.m. start.

Texas A&M International University Baseball