TYLER, Texas – University of Arkansas – Fort Smith Baseball saw an early lead slip away in a 6-5 loss Friday at UT Tyler in Lone Star Conference action.

The Lions (12-13, 11-11 LSC) scored two runs in both the first and second innings as they led 4-0 after two frames. UAFS got first inning RBIs from leftfielder Logan Easley and third baseman Brooks Sunny.

UAFS doubled its lead in the second when shortstop Brenden Williams delivered an RBI triple to left center and then scored on a groundout.

However, the Patriots (19-8, 18-7 LSC) answered with three runs in the bottom of the third off starter Logan Grant. Grant would finish the third before getting pulled after allowing three runs on six hits with four strikeouts.

Sunny gave the Lions a little breathing room in the fourth, blasting a solo homer to left, his fifth of the season.

The Patriots then tied the game in the bottom of the fourth with two runs off reliever Nico Sharp, and then took the lead in the fifth with a single tally. Sharp would settle down, tossing three scoreless innings to end the game. He was saddled with the loss after allowing three runs, two earned, on four hits over five innings.

UAFS would put the first two runners on in the eighth, but UT Tyler retired the next three batters to escape the jam.

Sunny would finish with three hits, two RBIs and a run, while Easley tallied two hits of his own.

The series concludes Saturday with a doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m.