SAN ANTONIO – The Texas A&M-Kingsville baseball program saw a three-run lead disappear late in game four against St. Mary's on Sunday at Dickson Stadium with a 6-5 decision favoring the hosts in the Lone Star Conference matchup.

The Javelinas (12-10, 12-10 LSC) put up four runs in the top of the sixth for a 5-1 edge, but the Rattlers (12-10, 12-10 LSC) responded with four runs in the bottom of the eighth en route to the decision.

StMU struck first in the bottom of the fifth when Keaton Milford's fly ball down the left field line was caught deep enough in foul territory to score Ragan Forrest.

The first of four runs for the Hogs in the top of the sixth started innocently enough on a bunt single from junior Giancarlo Servin (Edinburg, Texas) that was fielded by the pitcher and the errant throw down to first allowed redshirt senior Kohl Ullman (Houston, Texas) to score.

Two more came across when sophomore Steven Bonuz (Port Lavaca, Texas) bounced a single up the middle to plate the senior duo of Seth Spinn (Holland, Texas) and Austin De Leon (Frisco, Texas). The final run in the stanza came on a bounding-ball single through the right half of the diamond form senior Cameron Melcher (Kerrville, Texas) that capped Bonuz for a 4-1 Javelina lead going into the seventh.

The Rattlers tacked on one in the home half of the seventh when Milford bounced a single into right to score Ryan McGowen, which was matched in the top of the eighth on a single from Bonuz that scored Spinn to set the contest at 5-2 going into the bottom of the eighth.

A two-run home run from Andrew Perez started the rally for the hosts that trimmed the cushion to 5-4, while a bases-loaded walk issued to Steven Wynn brought in the tying run. The go-ahead run ended up at home in the following at-bat when Johnny Hernandez was plunked with the bases loaded that pushed Jake Mares across for a 6-5 lead going into the ninth.

The Javelinas had an opportunity to tie the game when Ullman led off the ninth with a single to left, but a game-ending double play brought the contest to an end and handed TAMUK the 6-5 loss.

Bonuz, Ullman and redshirt junior Hayden Fails (Sweeny, Texas) all tallied two hits in the loss, with Bonuz responsible for three RBI and one run scored.

Junior Kolby Lunsford (Helotes, Texas) got the start on the mound and went six innings with two strikeouts for the no-decision.

The Javelinas will remain on the road next week as they travel to Odessa, Texas, for a four-game set against UT Permian Basin starting on Friday, March 13.

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