UAFS won its fifth consecutive Heartland Conference baseball series on Friday afternoon as the Lions swept their series-opening doubleheader against the Texas A&M International Dustdevils at Crowder Field.

The Lions won the opening game 3-0 and rallied to win the second game 9-6. UAFS (23-16, 10-7) will play for its first conference series sweep at noon on Saturday against the Dustdevils (16-27, 7-10) in one nine-inning game.

It will be Senior Day as the Lions will honor seven upperclassmen in a pregame ceremony beginning at 11:45 a.m. There also will be a Faith and Family Community Tailgate Party prior to the start of the game with free hamburgers and hotdogs.

Since being swept by Lubbock Christian to begin conference play, UAFS has won series against St. Mary's, St. Edward's, Rogers State and Oklahoma Christian – all by 2-1 margins. The Lions will finish conference play next weekend with a three-game series against the Newman Jets at McCarthy Field in Wichita, Kan.

Lions ace Javon Rigsby (5-5) tossed a five-hit, complete-game shutout in the opening game. The senior faced just four batters more than the minimum, striking out seven with no walks over seven innings to earn the win.

Five different Dustdevils had one hit apiece – all singles – and Texas A&M International left four runners on base.

Texas A&M International starter Andrew Hernandez (4-4) suffered the loss, allowing three runs – two earned – on five hits with five walks and six strikeouts over 4 2/3 innings. Lions right fielder Logan Allen was 2 for 2 with one RBI, center fielder Travis Young was 1 for 2, as was catcher Dylan Hurt, and left fielder Tremarcus Koontz was 1 for 3.

UAFS let an early 1-0 lead get away in the second game, but the Lions rallied with a game-changing six-run, 11-batter fifth inning to regain the lead on their way to the win.

Trailing 3-1, Young gave UAFS the lead with a two-out, grand slam off Texas A&M International starter Andrew Pavon. The Lions added two more runs on a two-out, RBI double by left fielder Spencer Sackett, who later scored on the second of two Dustdevils' errors in the inning to give UAFS a 7-3 lead.

UAFS added a pair of runs in the bottom of the sixth on a one-out, two-run home run by first baseman Kyle Love to extend its lead to 9-3.

Texas A&M International added three runs in the top of the seventh – two off reliever Tyler Lindley and another off closer Foster Pace – but Pace did not allow a run or a hit in the final two innings.

Pavon (3-2) suffered the loss, allowing five runs – all earned – on three hits with three walks and two strikeouts over 4 2/3 innings.

Young was 2 for 4 with a double, a grand slam and five RBIs to lead UAFS. Love was 1 for 3 with a home run and two RBIs, Sackett was 1 for 4 with a double and one RBI, Allen was 1 for 3, second baseman Logan Easley was 1 for 5, designated hitter Trent Powell was 1 for 3 and third baseman Brooks Sunny was 1 for 4.

Lions starter Korbin Polly (3-0) earned the win, allowing three runs – all earned – on eight hits with four strikeouts over five innings. Lindley allowed two runs – both earned – on no hits with two walks and one strikeout over one-plus innings. Pace earned his fourth save, allowing one earned run on two hits with one strikeout over three innings.

Dustdevils left fielder Adrian Castillo was 1 for 3 with a double and two RBIs, shortstop Jorge Napoles was 2 for 5 with a double and one RBI, first baseman Mathew Trevino was 2 for 5 with a double and one RBI, designated hitter Obi Obinwa was 2 for 3 with a double and third baseman Philip Sanchez was 1 for 4 with one RBI.
 
GAME ONE
HEARTLAND CONFERENCE
UAFS 3, TEXAS A&M INTERNATIONAL 0
Texas A&M International       000      000      0          --          0          5          1
UAFS                                      020      100      X         --          3          5          1
Rigsby and Hurt; Hernandez, Rumley (5) and Rosales. W – Rigsby, 5-5. L – Hernandez, 4-4. HRs – None.
 
GAME TWO
HEARTLAND CONFERENCE
UAFS 9, TEXAS A&M INTERNATIONAL 6
Texas A&M International       001      110      300      --          6          10        2
UAFS                                      100      062      00X     --          9          8          2
Pavon, Mendiola (5), Coronado (6), Sanchez (8) and Rosales; Polly, Lindley (6), Pace (7) and Hurt. W – Polly, 3-0. L – Pavon, 3-2. Sv – Pace (4). HRs – UAFS, Love (5), Young (5).