LAREDO , Texas – Texas A&M-Kingsville split a Tuesday afternoon doubleheader with Lone Star Conference rival, Texas A&M-International. The twin bill featured shutouts handed out by both teams' pitching staffs. 

"I'm proud of how the team responded today," said interim coach Orlando Salinas. "Beth and Carissa were dealing today in the circle, and we cleaned things up defensively to put ourselves in a position to win." 

The Dustdevlis (10-14, LSC) took the first game of the day, 6-0 as the Javs left 10 runners on base, before TAMUK responded with 2-0 shutout win of its own courtesy of pitchers Carissa De Los Santos (3-2) and Beth Montes. 

The two combined to only allow five hits, striking out five Dustdevils, and stranding six runners on base. 

Game 1 

The Javelinas threatened early in the first game, loading the bases in the first inning, but were unable to get any runs across. 

International had no such issue taking a 2-0 lead via a fielding error and RBI double in the bottom half of the first. 

The Blue and Gold had no shortage of opportunities to strike back, but left runners on base in every inning. 

TAMIU added four more runs in the sixth with two coming off Javelina errors, capped off by a two-run home run that came with two outs. 

Lizette Del Angel (2-5) picked up the loss in the circle for TAMUK giving up six runs with only two earned across six innings of work. 

Game 2 

The Javs cleaned up things defensively committing no errors in the second half of the day's twin bill to shut out the Dustdevils. 

Despite leaving the bases loaded again in the top of the second, the Blue and Gold broke the 0-0 deadlock in the fourth with a Natalie Rodriguez RBI single to center field scoring pinch runner Autumn Jones from second. 

Rodriguez came up clutch again for TAMUK in the bottom half of the fourth throwing out a Dustdevil at the plate, as they tried to score on a single to right field from second base. 

In the sixth, Sammie Saenz scored on a TAMIU infield error to double the Javs lead at, 2-0. 

Montes closed the game out for the Javs after a strong five and two-thirds innings by Carissa De Los Santos. Montes, only allowed one hit across the final one and a third inning in the circle securing the 2-0 win for the Javelinas. 

Up Next 

The Javelinas now prepare for a rubber match against TAMIU tomorrow at 12 p.m.