USI Baseball squandered an eight-run lead, falling to Butler University 14-12 in Indianapolis. The Screaming Eagles (20-14) had a strong start, leading 10-2 after four innings, but Butler mounted a comeback, scoring seven runs in the fifth. A grand slam in the seventh allowed Butler (12-20) to take the lead for the first time, sealing USI's loss. Junior right-hander Levin East took the loss for USI, while senior Jake Porter did not receive a decision despite striking out a season-high seven. Next up, the Screaming Eagles face Eastern Illinois for a three-game series this weekend.

By the Numbers
  • USI held an 8-run lead at one point but lost by 2 runs.
  • Ryan Skwarek hit his first home run of the season.
State of Play
  • Butler scored seven runs in the fifth inning to close the gap to 10-9.
  • USI regained a brief lead at 12-9 before Butler's decisive seventh inning.
What's Next

USI will head to Charleston, Illinois, to take on Eastern Illinois in a three-game Ohio Valley Conference series, potentially impacting both teams' standings in the conference.

Bottom Line

USI's inability to maintain a sizable lead underscores the need for improved pitching and defense as they move forward into critical conference games.