EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. – SIUE pitchers allowed just three earned runs Tuesday, but the Cougars fell to Illinois State 5-0 in non-conference baseball at Simmons Baseball Complex.

"We threw the ball fine today," SIUE Interim Head Coach Tony Stoecklin said. "Our pitchers gave us a chance to win."

Illinois State, now 10-9, scored twice in the fourth, twice in the sixth, and once in the ninth. Brock Stewart and Kyle Stanton each homered in the win. Stewart was 2 for 5.

The Cougars, who fell to 5-11 overall, didn't take advantage of eight walks and four hit batters by Illinois State pitchers.

"It's a lack of clutch hitting," Stoecklin said. "It was our guys not stepping up and delivering a big hit when we needed it."

SIUE stranded 15 runners on base, including stranding the bases loaded in the fifth and eighth innings. The Cougars finished with just three hits.

Redbird starter J.D. Learnard (1-1) tossed five innings for the win. He allowed just a single hit. He walked five and struck out five.

Caleb Wilkerson (0-2) suffered the loss for SIUE. Wilkerson allowed a run on three hits in 3 1/3 innings. Stoecklin said he pulled Wilkerson because of a pitch count.

"I didn't want to extend his pitch count after he had just pitched (in relief) Saturday," Stoecklin said.

The Cougar bullpen combined to allow four runs, just two earned, over 5 2/3 innings. Brooks McDowell tossed 2 1/3 innings allowing one unearned run on two hits. He struck out six.

"They all threw well," Stoecklin said of his bullpen. "Brooks threw exceptionally well. That is probably the best I have seen him pitch this season."

Ryan Mansfield was 2 for 5 for SIUE. Joel Greatting had the only other hit. He was 1 for 3.

SIUE plays host to Ohio Valley Conference foe Murray State in a three-game weekend series beginning Friday at Simmons Complex.