EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. – SIUE baseball took game one of a three-game series against the Eastern Kentucky Colonels on a walk-off passed ball, winning the game 4-3.

The Cougars move to 11-6 in the Ohio Valley Conference and 11-15 overall.

Eastern Kentucky falls to 4-8 in the OVC and 10-19 overall.

"We always play game by game. No game is more important than the other," said Head Coach Tony Stoecklin. "That being said, it's always nice to start the weekend 1-0."

Brett Thomas earned the win for the Cougars, pitching three scoreless innings, allowing two hits and two walks, and striking out three.

Kyle Nowlin struck first for the Colonels on a home run in the first inning. Malach then loaded the bases on two singles and a walk, but was able to end the inning with just one run against him.

"Malach pitched well enough to keep us in the game," said Stoecklin. "He did a good job tonight."

It didn't take long for the Cougars to even the score, landing a run in the bottom of the first. After a double from Chase Green, Alex Saikal scored him with a single.

Keaton Wright put the Cougars ahead on a home run in the third, his third homer of the year.

Eastern Kentucky came back in the fourth to tie the game again. After issuing a two-out walk, Doug Teegarden  doubled  to score Kenny Hostrander .

Mike Miller took over for Malach in the fifth after Malach gave up two earned runs, five hits, three walks, and struck out three. Miller pitched two innings and gave up one run for the Cougars in the sixth on a home run from Ben Fisher.

The Cougars again evened the score at three after a double Skyler Geissinger  and an RBI single from Dustin Woodcock.

Brett Thomas took over for Miller in the seventh. Miller gave up one run on one hit and struck out one.

Nick Lombardo lead the bottom of the ninth with a walk, while Chase Green put down a sacrifice bunt to move him over. Wright also reached on a walk. Jacob Stewart moved both runners over with a groundout to the shortstop. Colonel pitcher Cameron Langfels dealt a pitch that the catch couldn't handle, resulting in a Cougar run and earning them the victory.

"We had timely hits tonight," said Stoecklin. "Hershenow did a nice job on the mound and kept us off balance, but Geissinger, Guinn, and Wright had good hits tonight."

SIUE returns for game two of the series Saturday at 1 p.m. at Simmons Baseball Complex.