INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – University of Southern Indiana Baseball could not hold onto an eight-run lead and lost to Butler University, 14-12, Tuesday afternoon at the Bulldog Ballpark in Indianapolis, Indiana. USI is 20-14 this season, while Butler falls to 12-20.
 
The Screaming Eagles took control of the game in the second inning, scoring five times to lead 5-0. USI used two bases-loaded walks and a bases-loaded wild pitch to score the first three tallies, while junior catcher Drue Saenz capped off the second inning rally with a two-run single.
 
The lead was increased to 7-0 in the top of the fourth when senior shortstop Clayton Slack hit a two-run home run to left field. The home run was Slack's third of the season, tying for the team lead.
 
Following a two-run bottom of the fourth by Butler, USI got the runs back and extended the lead to eight runs with a trio of tallies for a 10-2 advantage. Junior third baseman Collin Senior and graduate leftfielder scored the first two runs on a throwing error, while Slack struck again with a RBI single.
 
The Bulldogs, however, exploded for seven runs in the bottom of the fifth to close the gap to 10-9. USI junior second baseman Ryan Skwarek re-extended the Screaming Eagles' lead to 12-9 on a two-run home run to left field. The home run was Skwarek's first of the season.
 
The bottom half of the seventh belonged to the Bulldogs as they took their first lead of the game, 13-12, with a grand slam. Butler added one more run in the seventh for the eventual final score of 14-12.
 
USI junior right-hander Levin East took the loss for the Screaming Eagles in relief. East (5-3) allowed a pair of unearned runs in a third of an inning, allowing three hits, while striking out one.
 
USI senior left-hander Jake Porter started and picked up the no-decision. Porter, who struck out a season-high seven batters, allowed two runs on five hits and two walks.
 
Up Next for the Screaming Eagles:
 
The Screaming Eagles continue their five-game road swing this weekend when they visit Eastern Illinois for a three-game Ohio Valley Conference series in Charleston, Illinois. The Panthers are 18-11 overall and 7-2 in the OVC after two of three from Tennessee Tech last weekend and an 11-9 win over Northern Illinois on Tuesday afternoon.