EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. – SIUE baseball scored four times in the second inning Saturday and went on to a 6-3 win over UT Martin to earn a series win at Simmons Baseball Complex.

 "The old baseball adage says the big inning wins," SIUE Head Coach Tony Stoecklin said. "We put a four-spot on them and that was the difference in the ballgame."

The Cougars are now 14-9 in Ohio Valley Conference and 14-21 overall and will play for the series sweep Sunday afternoon beginning at 1 p.m. UT Martin is 12-28 overall and 5-16 in the OVC.

"That's the goal tomorrow; come out, put them away, and come out of here with a sweep," Stoecklin continued.

Jacob Stewart gave the Cougars a lead they would not relinquish in the second inning. Parker Guinn led off the inning with a single and Skyler Geissinger walked. Dustin Woodcock singled to load the bases, bringing Stewart to the plate. Stewart took a 2-2 pitch and drove it down the left field line for a three-run double. The Cougars would eventually load the bases again in the inning and Alec Saikal walked to force home a run to make it 4-0 after two innings.

UT Martin starter Dillon Symon lasted just 1 2/3 innings and fell to 0-2 with the loss. He allowed four runs on four hits and a walk.

The Skyhawks got on the board in the fourth when Nick Gavello led off the inning with his first home run to make it 4-1.

The Cougars extended their lead to 5-1 in the third inning when Geissinger scored on an infield single by Nick Lombardo.

In the fifth inning, UT Martin got RBI hits from Nick Pribble and Taylor Douglas to trim the SIUE lead to 6-3. With runners on first and second and just one out, Stewart helped the Cougars again, this time defensively. Skyhawks' first baseman Nico Zych hit a bounding ball towards third. Stewart was able to leap up, catch the ball, step on third, and then throw to first to complete the double play to end the inning.

"Jacob is doing a great job and he's making the plays in the field," Stoecklin said. "That double play we turned where he leaped up and stepped on the bag and then threw to first; that could have been a game-changer if that gets passed him."

Stewart finished the game 2 for 3 with the three RBIs and a run. He was on base four times.

Cougar starter Jarrett Bednar worked into the seventh inning allowed just the three runs on six hits. He struck out four and improved to 2-4 for the season.

"Jarrett did a nice job over six strong innings," Stoecklin said. "He gave us a chance to win."

The Cougars scored their final run in the sixth inning on a pair of hits. Chase Green singled to start the inning and then scored three batters later on a one-out hit by Guinn.

Guinn finished 2 for 4. Green was 2 for 3.

Zach Malach worked the final 2 2/3 scoreless innings. He allowed just one hit and struck out three.

"Zach did a great job," Stoecklin added. "He came in a pounded the strike zone. He kept them off balance and didn't give them a chance to score."

UT Martin finished with just seven hits. Andrew Castillo finished 2 for 4 at the plate for the Skyhawks.