LAREDO, Texas (February 6, 2026) – The first road game of the 2026 season for The University of Texas Permian Basin baseball team saw the Falcons score four runs in the top of the third inning and lead 4-0, but they could not hold the lead for very long as Texas A&M International University answered with a grand slam and five total runs in the bottom half of the third inning and ultimately scored 14 unanswered runs en route to a 14-4 eight-inning victory.

After shining with zero errors in a 2-0 shutout win last time out, the defense for UTPB (1-3 overall, 1-3 Lone Star Conference) picked up where it left off with a groundball double play to end the bottom of the first inning.

The teams combined for nine runs on seven hits in the third inning, with UTPB scoring four runs on three hits and TAMIU (2-2, 2-2) bringing in five runs on four hits. A grand slam to right center field by first baseman Eddie Saenz was the big blow of the bottom half for TAMIU and single-handedly brought the Dustdevils back from a big deficit to take the lead (5-4).

The defense tried to help UTPB stay in it as center fielder Demetrius Deramus threw out a runner trying to stretch it to third base to end the bottom of the third inning, and then Deramus used his speed to get under the ball and make the catch to end the bottom of the fifth inning and strand two Dustdevils in scoring position. In the bottom of the sixth, Isaac Rodriguez picked off a runner at first base, marking the second game in a row the UTPB pitching staff successfully executed a pickoff.

Unfortunately, Saenz delivered again for TAMIU and made the Falcons pay for allowing a two-out double and a walk in the sixth as he smacked a two-run double to center field for his fifth and sixth RBI's of the game. That allowed the Dustdevils to double up the Falcons on the scoreboard (8-4), but was just the first of three two-out, two-run hits for TAMIU in the inning. The Dustdevils finished the inning with six runs on four hits, including three doubles and three walks, and ultimately took a 12-4 lead.

Daylon Jeffcoats made a great over-the-shoulder catch near the fence in right center field to rob Saez of extra bases and more potential RBI's in the bottom of the seventh.

TAMIU's starting pitcher, William Boucher, pitched into the eighth inning and finished with four runs allowed on seven hits and four walks across 7.1 innings.

The Dustdevils scored two more runs on one hit and three walks in the bottom of the eighth inning and ended the game on a run-rule with a two-out RBI-single.

UTPB Head Baseball Coach Justin Phillips said after the game, "We cannot assume that we are just going to win. We have to approach every day, every aspect, every pitch with intent and purpose. We have to expect to win, but we cannot assume we will win."

Saenz, a 2026 LSC Player to Watch, returns as one of TAMIU's most consistent position players after starting 46 games last season. The infielder posted a .288 batting average, scored 30 runs, and drove in 29 RBIs while launching six home runs.

In addition to Saenz's exploits against UTPB on Friday, second baseman Ciro Benavides was a perfect 5-for-5 from the top spot in the Dustdevils' lineup.

For UTPB, Alden Quintanilla and Braeden Dyck both reached base three times with a pair of singles and a walk while Deramus notched a pair of doubles. All three batters scored and recorded a hit during UTPB's four-run third inning, including an RBI-double to right field by Deramus to open the scoring .

In addition, the UTPB defense went error-free for the second game in a row.

TAMIU has now scored double-digit runs in each of its last three games, something UTPB is still looking to accomplish this season.

Game two of the series against Texas A&M International will be at 12 p.m. on Saturday, February 7, from Jorge Haynes Field.