ROMEOVILLE, Ill. – The University of Southern Indiana baseball team took game two in 10 innings to split a doubleheader with Lewis University Saturday afternoon in Romeoville, Illinois. USI dropped the opening game, 5-1, before bouncing back to win the nightcap in 10 innings, 4-2.
 
The Screaming Eagles watched their record go to 23-15 overall and 14-4 in the GLVC, while Lewis goes to 11-28 overall, 5-13 GLVC. The split also enables USI to maintain a one game lead in the GLVC East Division after second-place University of Illinois Springfield swept a doubleheader from the University of Wisconsin-Parkside this afternoon.
 
In the opener, the Eagles lost a 5-1 decision to snap its 10-game winning streak. USI scored its only run in the ninth when junior first baseman Nathan Kuester (Rockport, Indiana) scored on an RBI-ground out by senior pinch hitter Cody Montgomery (Shepherdsville, Kentucky).
 
The Eagles stranded nine runners on base in the first game, including two in the first inning after loading the bases with one out. USI left two runners on in three of the nine innings.
 
USI senior right-hander Lucas Barnett (Sellersburg, Indiana) lost for the first time in 2017 and the first time since May 13 of last season. Barnett (5-1) allowed four runs, two earned, on nine hits, while striking out six in 7.1 innings of work.
 
In the nightcap, Kuester hit a home run and sophomore second baseman Jacob Fleming (Evansville, Indiana) drove in an insurance run as the Eagles rallied for the split, 4-2. The home run was Kuester's third as an Eagle.  
 
At the plate, Kuester, Fleming, and junior third baseman Joe Redburn (Newburgh, Indiana) finished game two with a team-high two hits and an RBI each.
 
Early in the game, the Eagles jumped out in front, 2-0, with a run in the fifth and the sixth of the seven-inning contest. Lewis rallied to tie the game in the bottom of the sixth on a two-run home run off of USI junior right-handed starter Kyle Griffin (Morganfield, Kentucky) and send the game in to extra innings.
 
On the mound, senior right-hander Justin Watts (Bryan, Ohio) posted his fourth win of the season in relief. Watts (4-1) did not allow a hit and struck out four in four innings out of the bullpen.
 
Griffin got a no decision after going the first six innings. He allowed the two runs on four hits and a walk, while striking out eight.
 
USI and Lewis complete the four-game set Sunday with a noon doubleheader. Following the series, The Eagles complete the five-game road swing Tuesday when they visit Kentucky Wesleyan College for a 2 p.m. game.  

For live coverage of USI Baseball in 2017, visit GoUSIEagles.com.