NEW ALBANY, Ind. - The Indiana University Southeast baseball team dropped its first home game of the year on Wednesday evening (4/14) in New Albany. The Grenadiers fell to the visiting Knights of Bellarmine University (NCAA DII), 7-3.

The loss did not diminish what was a spectacular day for the IU Southeast baseball program. Before the game, IU Southeast honored the Clark-Floyd Counties Convention and Tourism Bureau for its generous donation of funding for the new field lighting at the Koetter Sports Baseball Complex.

IU Southeast Chancellor Sandra Patterson-Randles, Clark-Floyd County Convention and Tourism Bureau Executive Director Jim Keith and Grenadier Head Baseball Coach Ben Reel each spoke before the game culminating with the throwing of the first switch to turn on the new field lighting.

"Today's festivities were simply wonderful," said Coach Reel. "It was nice having the Chancellor and Mr. Keith here to help us celebrate our new lights."

Reel knows that the lights will help the program grow in the future. "I can't explain how grateful I am to have lights here on our field. It is an honor to be the first outdoor sport at IU Southeast to have lights. These lights will help our program grow and bring more people to our wonderful community. It's exciting for everyone involved."

To add even more excitement to the evening's festivities, local television producer Rival Sports taped the game and will broadcast it several times this upcoming weekend with its local broadcasting partners.

The Grenadiers game with the Bellarmine Knights will be shown on the following channels and times:

Friday: WNDA-9 10 p.m. - 12:30 a.m. (Insight 98)

Friday: WYCS-24 8 p.m. - 10:30 p.m. (Insight 138 \ AT&T24)

Saturday: WYCS-24 12 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. (Insight 138 \ AT&T 24)

Sunday: WNDA-9 2 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. (Insight 98)

"Tonight really shows what is possible when everyone comes together," said Reel. "This was one of the best atmospheres I've ever seen since I was in college. Tonight I saw some alumni, community members, our administration and our regular fans and family all having a good time while enjoying a beautiful evening of Grenadier baseball. These lights really seem to be a landmark for the community."

IU Southeast is currently 29-12 overall this season. This year's team is already one of the most successful baseball team's in school history. The team is currently only seven wins away from breaking the all-time record for most wins in a season by an IU Southeast baseball team.

The Grenadiers currently boast a league-best 14-2 overall record in the Kentucky Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (KIAC). The Grenadiers are currently in sole possession of first place in the conference regular-season standings. Brescia University is currently two games back of the Grenadiers in second place in the conference standings.

The IU Southeast baseball program is now 20-1 at home this season at the Koetter Sports Baseball Complex. The Grenadiers are also 2-1 overall under the lights in evening games this season.

Next, the Grenadiers will host Cincinnati Christian University for a four-game weekend series beginning with a doubleheader on Friday beginning at 5 p.m.

On Saturday the Grenadiers will honor its 14 departing seniors for all of their accomplishments and contributions to IU Southeast. Saturday's doubleheader with Cincinnati Christian will begin at 6 p.m.

Check back to IUSAthletics.com later this evening for more information including the complete box score statistics from the tonight's game with Bellarmine.