PORTALES, N.M. - The Texas A&M-Kingsville baseball program erased a six-run deficit on Sunday at the Greyhound Baseball Field and laid claim to the series win following a thrilling finish in the weekend finale against Eastern New Mexico in the South Central Regional matchup. 

"I'm extremely proud of the fight and Pack Mentality that the guys showed," said head coach Jason Gonzales. "They out-toughed the other team and they don't know how to quit. 

The Javelinas (15-8) were kept off the board through the first five innings but connected for seven runs in the final two frames to take the series over the Greyhounds (9-11). 

For the first time in the series, the Hogs failed to put any runs on the board in the top of the first inning. Meanwhile, ENMU struck first in the bottom of the third after Nicolas Ankerman slapped a two-run single back up the middle for a 2-0 advantage going into the third. 

TAMUK got a run back in the top of the sixth after junior Seth Spinn (Holland, Texas) laced a one-out triple down into deep right center, his third of the season. 

The Holland, Texas, native came home on the next at bat as sophomore Giancarlo Servin (Edinburg, Texas) bounced a single through the left half of the diamond to cap the run for the Blue and Gold. 

The Greyhounds did the most damage in the bottom half of the stanza after taking advantage of a TAMUK miscue. Luidinson Hidalgo plated the first run on an errant throw following a groundball in the infield, while the next four came after the fact. 

ENMU connected for three singles later in the at bat to set the line score at 7-1 going into the seventh. 

The momentum took a wild shift in the top of the eighth after redshirt senior Pablo Hernandez (Havana, Cuba) drilled his first round-tripper of the year over the left field wall for three runs. The Javelinas loaded the bases back up later in the at bat and a free pass issued to senior Donovan Lewis (Alvin, Texas) brought the next run home. 

The final run came courtesy of a wild pitch, granting senior Dylan Hutcheson (Wichita Falls, Texas) access to home, and the 7-6 score carried over to the ninth. 

Down to their last at bat, the Hogs took advantage of an errant throw with runners at first and second to even the count. A failed back-pick attempt from the Greyhounds' catcher sailed off target and Servin ended up scoring to finally tie the contest at 7-7. 

A sacrifice fly from junior Cameron Melcher (Kerrville, Texas) put the Blue and Gold ahead as redshirt senior Manny Loredo (McAllen, Texas) took a stroll home for an 8-7 TAMUK lead. 

TAMUK still had its work cut out after the first two batters reached via walk and a misplay on a bunt attempt. Both runners ended up in scoring position following a double steal to prompt a pitching change from Gonzales. 

Redshirt senior Garrett Alexander (Spring, Texas) was given the keys with nobody out and two runners on in the bottom of the ninth. With the infield playing, Alexander induced a groundball to Hernandez for the first out before he got Hidalgo swinging for the second. 

Malcolm Boehm, looking to play spoiler, faced the same fate as Hidalgo as he went down swinging to give Alexander his first save of the 2019 season while the Hogs took the series with a third win. 

Melcher and Servin each finished with three hits in the win to lead the offensive look. Hutcheson and junior Austin De Leon (Frisco, Texas) were the other two Javelinas with multiple hits as the pair ended with two. 

Sophomore Tyler Flores (San Antonio, Texas) took the no-decision as he went five innings and gave up four runs, two earned, with a pair of punchouts, while freshman Matthew Sesler (Harlingen, Texas) was credited with the win with two innings of work to go with two strikeouts. 

TAMUK will have one final road game on the trip away from Nolan Ryan Field with a matchup against St. Edward's on Tuesday, March 19, in Austin, Texas. 

To keep up-to-date with the Javelina baseball program, visit JavelinaAthletics.com, you can also follow the team on Facebook at /JavelinaBaseball and on Twitter @JavelinaBSB 

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