Harrogate, Tenn. – The University of Southern Indiana baseball team let a six run lead slip away and fall to Lincoln Memorial University, 9-8, Sunday afternoon in Harrogate, Tennessee. USI is 3-2 overall in 2004, while LMU goes to 5-10-1.

The Screaming Eagles jumped out to a 6-0 lead with a pair of runs in the first and four more in the third before the Railsplitters could get onto the scoreboard. LMU inched its way back into the game with three runs in the bottom half of the third inning and responded to an Eagles' tally in the fifth with three more in the bottom of the sixth to make the score 7-6.

USI increased its lead to 8-6 with a tally in the seventh, only to see the scored tied for the first time since the first inning in the bottom half of the inning by LMU.

After the Eagles stranded a pair of runners in the top of the ninth, the Railsplitters pushed the winning run across with two outs in the bottom half for the 9-8 victory.

USI sophomore left-hander Nathan Arnold (Evansville, Indiana) took the loss for the Eagles in relief. Arnold went two-plus innings and allowed just the one run and two hits while striking out one.

Sophomore right-hander Mike Watson (Madison, Indiana) started for the Eagles, but was pulled for senior right-hander Drew Neel (Newburgh, Indiana) after allowing three runs in the bottom of the third. Neel faired little better, allowing three runs of his own before giving way to freshman right-hander Adam Vetter (Crown Point, Indiana). Vetter allowed two runs in just one-third of an inning.

At the plate, USI was led by junior rightfielder Matt Keener (Newburgh, Indiana) with three hits and two runs scored in four plate appearances. Sophomore first baseman Derik Hutton (Versailles, Indiana) followed Keener with a pair of hits and two RBIs in the losing effort.

The Eagles resume action Tuesday, March 2, at Indiana University Southeast in New Albany, Indiana. The first pitch is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. (CT).