Box Score PINE BLUFF, Ark. - Arkansas-Pine Bluff defeated Southern University 6-5 in thrilling fashion for the second day in a row and took two out of three games in the Southwestern Athletic Conference weekend series at Torii Hunter Baseball Complex. The win lifts the Golden Lions to .500 on the season.

UAPB (4-4, 2-1 SWAC) trailed 4-0 for the second day in a row thanks to four quick Jaguar runs in the second inning off of a Rashad Raine grand slam which started things off for Southern, then in the fourth inning William Nelson walked with the bases loaded to push the score to 5-0.

Despite the rough start, UAPB pitcher Thomas Sanchez was able to get out of the bind and produced a total of five strikeouts on the afternoon before being replaced by Antoine Luster II after six. And that's when the bats came alive for the Golden Lions; it started with an Owen Young RBI-single to right field which scored Nick Kreutzer, then Jacob Columbo scored on a balk from the Southern pitcher. That brought the score to 5-2 in favor of Southern, but UAPB wasn't done.

In the seventh inning, Sergio Esparza made magic with a 3-run shot to left field that tied the game as Cutter McDonald and John Magnuson touched home plate. The pressure seemed insurmountable for Southern until it rallied and almost for certain would have scored a run before Kacy Higgins Jr. made a sensational catch at the wall to end the eighth inning.

In the ninth inning it was Ryan Mallison who got things started off for UAPB with a single to right field before stealing second base. He then advanced to third on a wild pitch. Esparza was then intentionally walked and eventually stole second before Kreutzer was intentionally walked. Southern's strategy seemed to work as they brought in an extra infielder from center field and replaced relief pitcher Brandon Sykes with Whilhelm Allen, who showed plenty of movement during his warm up and immediately struck out Columbo for out number one. Ricardo Sanchez then got on base on a fielder's choice but Mallison was gunned down as he slid home for out number two.

That's when "El Magico" Esparza scampered across home plate on a wild pitch from Allen for a walk-off stolen base.

Luster II (2-0) picked up his second win of the season and finished with two strike outs.

UAPB returns to action on Tuesday, March 6 as it hosts Creighton University in non-conference action. First pitch is set for 1 p.m. at Torii Hunter Baseball Complex.