CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. – A pair of four-run innings lifted Southeast Missouri to a 9-4 win over SIUE Thursday in the opener of a three-game Ohio Valley Conference baseball series.

"They (SEMO) swing the bat pretty well," SIUE Head Coach Gary Collins said. "The big innings hurt, and we gave up two."

SIUE fell to 26-27 overall and 12-13 in the OVC. Southeast Missouri improved to 20-33 overall and 11-14 in the OVC.

SEMO scored four runs in the second inning on four hits including a three-run home run by SEMO second baseman Tayor Heron. The Redhawks scored four more in the fifth on five hits including a three-run home run from shortstop Kenton Parmley.

Travis Felax suffered the loss for SIUE. Felax allowed all nine runs, eight of them earned, on 13 hits. The eight runs and 13 hits were both season-highs for Felax.

"Seems like he saved his worst for last," Collins said. "There were a lot of balls hit hard off him."

Drew Staples relieved Felax and threw three scoreless innings. He allowed a single hit and struck out one.

"That's the best he's looked all year," Collins said of Staples.

SIUE finished with seven hits against four Redhawk pitchers. The Cougars got two hits from three different players: Mitch Matecki, Matt Highland and James Vazquez. Vazquez drove in two of the Cougars' four runs. Highland and Devin Caldwell each added an RBI for SIUE.

Will Spitzfaden earned the win, tossing 5 1/3 innings. He allowed four runs on five hits. He struck out one to improve to 2-2.

"We hit some balls hard tonight too," Collins added. "We can still get two wins out of the series. We'll just have to do it against their best (pitchers)."

Game two of the series is Friday afternoon at Capaha Park. First pitch is set for 2 p.m.