ODESSA, Texas - The Texas A&M-Kingsville baseball program let a four-run lead slip away late in the Lone Star Conference series finale against UT Permian Basin on Monday at Roden Field, as the hosts took advantage of a pair of untimely miscues to come away with a 5-4 decision.

The Javelinas (25-15, 9-7 LSC) jumped on the Falcons (14-22, 5-7 LSC) early like they did in the two other wins of the series, but were unable to secure the win.

TAMUK struck first in the top of the second after freshman Steven Bonuz (Port Lavaca, Texas) and junior Cameron Melcher (Kerrville, Texas) pulled off the double steal with runners at the corners for the first run.

Redshirt senior Alex Gonzalez (Corpus Christi, Texas) followed up with an RBI liner into left that plated Bonuz later in the frame, while junior Austin De Leon (Frisco, Texas) ripped a double into the right center gap for a 3-0 lead heading into the third after Gonzalez scored.

Gonzalez put the lead at four after pulling off the squeeze bunt in the top of the fourth with classmate Pablo Hernandez (Havana, Cuba) sprinting in from third, but the lead was summarily cut in half in the bottom of the frame after Tyler Vlasek laced a double into left for two runs.

A two-run home run from Will Bierlein in the bottom of the fifth evened the score at 4-4 following the first Hog error, and the hosts took the lead on the second miscue of the day in the bottom of the seventh following a bunt attempt from Pemrom Burrows that drew an errant throw down to first to allow the go-ahead run to score.

Unfortunately, the Hogs were unable to claim the series as they went down in order in the final two innings for a 5-4 score.

Bonuz, alongside Sophomore Giancarlo Servin (Edinburg, Texas), were the two members of the Blue and Gold to manage multiple hits as they each posted two in the loss.

Senior Eric Sandoz (Austin, Texas) took the loss despite not allowing an earned run as he came in relief of sophomore Tyler Flores (San Antonio, Texas) in the bottom of the fourth.

TAMUK will have the week off from LSC play before returning to action on April 26 for a four-game set against Angelo State.

Stay up-to-date with everything Javelina baseball at JavelinaAthletics.com, follow the program on Twitter @JavelinaBSB and see recent news on Facebook at /JavelinaBSB

-JAVELINAS-