PINE BLUFF, Ark. (Interstat) — The Arkansas-Pine Bluff Golden Lions capitalized on a critical Texas Southern error in the bottom of the ninth inning to secure a walk-off 5-4 victory in Southwestern Athletic Conference baseball action Sunday at Torii Hunter Baseball/Softball Complex.

The win gave the Golden Lions the series victory, taking two of three games from the visiting Tigers after the teams split the first two contests of the weekend.

The game’s decisive moment came with two outs in the final frame. Pinch-hitter Dane Small worked a walk against Texas Southern reliever Jose Luccioni. Konner Giddley moved him to second with a sacrifice bunt. After an intentional walk to Zyon Hamilton, Ian Smith lifted a fly ball to right field for the second out.

With runners on first and second, Owen Gietzen hit a sharp ground ball to first base that was misplayed, allowing Small to race home from second with the winning run. The error handed the Golden Lions their second unearned run of the game and the series-clinching victory.

The contest was a tale of two distinct pitching performances. Texas Southern starter Zachary Laviage entered in relief in the second inning and delivered a masterful outing, throwing seven shutout innings without allowing a hit. He struck out four and walked two, single-handedly stifling the Arkansas-Pine Bluff offense after a rocky start by his team.

Conversely, Arkansas-Pine Bluff starter Ryland Morin provided crucial stability for his squad. He lasted seven innings, allowing three earned runs on six hits while striking out four. He handed a tie game to the bullpen, where Jordan Medellin earned the win with two scoreless innings of relief, surrendering just one hit.

The Golden Lions built an early lead by battering Texas Southern starter Jose Luccioni in the first two innings. They scored three times in the first, keyed by an RBI single from Lazaro Alvarado and a sacrifice fly from Nick Hockemeyer. An unearned run in the second, driven in by a Jose Vasquez sacrifice fly, extended their lead to 4-0.

Texas Southern clawed back in the third inning. Miguel Morales led off with a double and scored, along with Nate Lopez, on a two-run single up the middle by Christopher Chavez. Chavez finished the day 3 for 4 with two RBIs.

The Tigers tied the game in the seventh on an RBI groundout by Zach Pace that plated Morales, who had reached on an error. They then took a brief 4-3 lead in the eighth. Chavez singled, advanced on a hit-by-pitch, and scored on an RBI single from Byron Robinson off Medellin.

That lead was short-lived. In the bottom of the eighth, the Golden Lions loaded the bases with one out against Laviage, but could not score, setting the stage for the ninth-inning drama.

With the loss, Texas Southern falls to 16-14 overall. Arkansas-Pine Bluff improves to 18-23. The Golden Lions collected 10 hits in the game, while the Tigers managed seven.

Texas Southern travels to face Houston Christian on Wednesday. Arkansas-Pine Bluff visits Central Arkansas the same day.