EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. – SIUE baseball rebounded to win the finale of a three-game series Sunday afternoon, defeating South Dakota State 4-2, after falling to the Jackrabbits 11-8 in the completion of a suspended game.

South Dakota State (4-10-1) took a 2-0 lead in the finale on two hits in the third inning against Cougars starter Travis Felax. It is all the Jackrabbits would get.

Felax settled in to toss seven innings. He allowed only the two runs on two hits. He struck out four. At one point the right-hander retired 13 of 14 hitters. He improved to 4-1 with the win. Dustin Quattrocchi earned his fourth save of the year with two perfect innings of relief. He struck out two.

"Travis gave us seven really good innings. He gave us a chance and we finished it out," SIUE Head Coach Gary Collins said. "The whole season, when we have been given a chance, we have done pretty well."

SIUE (9-10) answered with a pair of runs in the bottom of the third inning. Chase Green scored on a wild pitch after reaching on an error and advancing on a moving to third on a base hit by James Vazquez. Vazquez went to third on back-to-back wild pitches and then scored the tying run on a sac fly by Joel Greatting.

Brett Keeler scored the game-winning run in the fourth inning. He walked with two outs, and then went to third on a double by Green. Keeler scored on a wild pitch.  Mitch Matecki drove home James Vazquez with a sacrifice fly in the seventh inning to make it 4-2.

Vazquez was 3 for 5 to lead the Cougars in the finale. SIUE managed just five total hits. The Jackrabbits outhits SIUE 6-5 in the game. 

"We won another game where we got outhit, but you can't keep doing that," Collins said.

Phil Paquette was 2 for 4 in the losing effort for SDSU. Dan Marra and Eric Cain were each 1 for 4 with an RBI. Layne Somsen allowed three Cougar runs on just two hits over six innings. He walked seven. He dropped to 0-2 with the loss.

After being forced to end play Saturday because of thunderstorms, SIUE and South Dakota State began Sunday in the fifth inning with the Jackrabbits in front 11-4.  When play resumed, the Cougars came out swinging, scoring three times in the fifth inning to make it 11-7 Jackrabbits. Greatting led off the inning with a home run, before Devin Caldwell and Zach Hawkins followed with consecutive doubles. Caldwell scored on the Hawkins' double. Vazquez capped the scoring with a sacrifice fly to drive home Zach Hawkins. Vazquez made pulled the Cougars within three at 11-8 with a second sacrifice fly in the seventh inning. SIUE couldn't get any closer.

All the runs came against SDSU reliever Austin Busse. He allowed the four runs on six hits. He walked four.

"The delay helped us without question because they had their starter out of the game, and we got into their bullpen," Collins said. "We got back into the game pretty quick, but then we just could not get all the way back."

Greatting finished the game 3 for 4 with the homer. Caldwell was 3 for 5. Zach Hawkins was 2 for 5

On the mound, Josh Hoguet worked five scoreless innings out of the bullpen. He allowed four hits and struck out one. Hoguet was the third reliever in the game. Starter Brooks McDowell (1-1) allowed eight runs over 2 2/3 innings and took the loss.

Paquette led the way for the Jackrabbits. He was 3 for 4 with three RBIs in the win. Four other players had two hits for SDSU, which finished with 15 total hits. The win was the 600^th in the coaching career of South Dakota State's Dave Schrage.

SIUE continues the long home stand with a mid-week game against Illinois State Wednesday. First pitch at Simmons Complex is slated for 3 p.m.