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KINGSVILLE, Texas (Baseball) – Much like game two yesterday, the bats came alive for five runs in the sixth and three in the eighth as No. t-22 Texas A&M University-Kingsville (23-9, 14-6 LSC) defeated No. 17/11 West Texas A&M University (24-10, 13-7 LSC), 9-4, Sunday afternoon at Nolan Ryan Field. With the victory, the Javelinas move into first place in the Lone Star Conference standings, a game ahead of West Texas A&M and Angelo State University.
 
Dalton Perry and Jimmy Roche scored two runs apiece and every starter recorded a base hit in the win.
 
West Texas A&M scored first with three runs in the top of the second inning. The Buffaloes tacked on a run in the third to take a 4-0 lead.
 
Perry tripled to right field and came around to score on a wild pitch, cutting the Javelinas deficit to 4-1.
 
A five run sixth allowed Kingsville to take its first lead of the game, 6-4, as the Javelinas mounted a two out rally, beginning with Zach Smith's single through the left side. After Perry walked, Hayden Vesely drove in Smith on a single up the middle and Ruben Almaguer followed with a single to load the bases. Roche was hit by a pitch to make it a 4-3 game and Pablo Hernandez drove in a run and two others came to score on the error as Texas A&M-Kingsville went up 6-4.
 
Roche led off the bottom of the eighth with his third triple of the season and came around to score on Miles Holcomb's opposite field single to give TAMUK a three-run cushion. Wesley Aguilar drove a double into the right center field gap to make it an 8-4 ballgame in favor of the Javelinas. The senior shortstop stole third and scored on a throwing error, giving the Hogs a five-run lead.
 
Lance Elling tossed 2.1 scoreless innings in relief and struck out three. The bullpen combined for 5.0 scoreless innings. Elling (2-0) earned his second win of the season with Jako Kelm, Hunter Lehman, Kyle Black, Trey Taylor and Vesely all made appearances out of the 'pen. Luke Wiechec was tagged with the loss after giving up six runs – four earned – in 5.2 innings.
 
The series win is TAMUK's sixth series victory and fourth LSC series win.
 
The Javelinas host nationally-ranked St. Edward's University Tuesday at 6 p.m.
 
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