PORTALES, N.M. - Tarleton rallied back from a four-run deficit to take an 8-7 lead in the eighth, but Eastern New Mexico scored a pair in response to take the series finale 9-8 Sunday afternoon.

Tarleton heads into the final series of the regular season holding a one-game lead over the Greyhounds. Tarleton will host UT Permian Basin in a four-game series next weekend while Eastern New Mexico heads to Kingsville for four against the Javelinas.

Tarleton got on the board first when a run crossed on a double play to put the Texans up 1-0 but Eastern New Mexico went on to score five unanswered and take a 5-1 lead into the sixth.

Tyler Parker sparked the offense with a walk and stolen base before ultimately crossing the plate to cut the deficit to 5-2 in the middle of the sixth. The next inning, Tarleton loaded the bases on free passes then plated two more on a passed ball and a Blake Burns sacrifice fly to bring Tarleton back within one at 5-4.

Eastern New Mexico punched back with two in their half of the seventh but Tarleton had a three-run answer in the eighth when a couple of Greyhound errors opened the flood gates and allowed one run to score. Then Parker tied the game with a two-run single to make it 7-7. The third Greyhound error of the inning allowed Parker to cross and put Tarleton on top 8-7.

In the Eastern half of the eighth, Tarleton got two outs but couldn't escape a bases-loaded jam. The Hounds ripped a two-run single to take a 9-8 lead. Tarleton got Sam Scarborough to second with one out in the ninth but couldn't bring him around to force extras.

Burns had two of Tarleton's five hits for the day while Jacob Walker, Tyler Fowler and Mesa had one each. Hunter Thomas, Case Rolen, Jon Law and Chris Reed combined for the work on the mound.