EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. – SIUE baseball scored a come-from-behind 6-2 win over UT Martin Sunday to sweep the three-game Ohio Valley Conference Series.

The Cougars improved to 15-9 in OVC play and 15-21 overall. UT Martin is 5-16 in the OVC and 12-29 overall.

The Cougars have now swept three OVC series this season. Sunday marked the third consecutive series sweep of SIUE over UT Martin in Edwardsville.

Cougar starter Ryan Daniels worked into the seventh inning in his longest outing of the year. He allowed just two runs on four hits and struck out a season-high five hitters. He improved to 3-5 with the win.

"Ryan Daniels gave us another quality start and that was the key to the ballgame," SIUE Head Coach Tony Stoecklin said. "That's been the key to the entire series."

The Skyhawks took advantage of two walks to get out in front in the sixth. Nick Gavello gave UT Martin the lead with a two-out, two-run double, but the Cougars answered.

SIUE scored three times in the bottom of the sixth to take the lead for good.  The inning started with a double from Jacob Stewart. Nick Lombardo reached on a sacrifice bunt attempt before moving to second base on a sac bunt by Denton Reed. Chase Green reached on an error, scoring Lombardo. Keaton Wright grounded out to drive in Green and Alec Saikal made it 3-2 with a single to left field.

The Cougars scored three more runs in the eighth. Saikal picked up another RBI-single and two runs scored when a fly ball to left from Parker Guinn was dropped.

"We made things happen," Stoecklin added. "You swing the bat well, and you hit the ball hard, and you put pressure on the defense and you force them to make plays."

Ryan Agnitsch relieved Daniels in the seventh inning and worked 1 2/3 scoreless innings. UTM loaded the bases against Agnitsch in the eighth inning before Agnitsch induced a ground ball double play from Gavello. The play would have tied the game, but umpires ruled that Nico Zych's slide into second base was illegal and the runners were forced to go back.

Brett Thomas worked the final 1 1/3 innings to earn his team-leading fifth save of the year, and the second save of the series.

"The bullpen was outstanding all weekend," Stoecklin added. "Today (Agnitsch) got into a jam and he found a way out of it. Brett spelled him with two outs in the eighth and then he shut the door."

Carter Smith (2-8) worked 7 2/3 innings for the Skyhawks. He allowed all six runs, but just three earned. He struck out five. Smith did not allow a hit through the first five innings.

"Our guys had looked mystified until that point," Stoecklin said. "After UT Martin got on the board they decided as a group it was time to score."

The Cougars take an extended break from OVC play. SIUE travels to Maccomb, Illinois for a Wednesday game at Western Illinois before playing a four-game weekend series against Missouri Valley foe Illinois State.