EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. – Illinois State swept a baseball doubleheader from SIUE Tuesday, winning 6-1 and 9-1.

The twin bill was scheduled following the cancelations of both teams' weekend series. The games marked the first time SIUE has opened its season at home since 2006.

"There are multiple positives things that we can take away from today, but there are things that we have to learn from and move forward on," SIUE Head Coach Sean Lyons said.

SIUE started a pair of true freshmen on the mound. Noah Matheny worked game one and allowed four runs over four innings. He struck out five and did not walk a batter. Griffin Bruder started game two and allowed a run over three innings He struck out one and walked one.

"Today was a great opportunity for those young guys to get their feet wet and get experience," Lyons said of his starters. "This was a great opportunity for our whole team to learn."

The Redbird got up 4-0 in the first game before the Cougars got on the board in the fifth innings. Ole Arntson scored on a wild pitch after reaching on a fielder's choice. The Redbirds tacked on two more runs in the sixth for the 6-1 final.

Connor Kiffer and Raul Elguezabal accounted for all six of SIUE's hits in the opener. Both were 3-3 for the game.

"I am really happy with the way Raul and Connor came out of the shoot swinging the bat in game one," Lyons said. "They really put some good barrels on the baseball."

SIUE broke out on top in game two, scoring a run on two  hits in the second inning. Freshman Brennan Orf drilled a double to the wall in right center to lead off the second inning and then scored on a two-out single by John Stallcup. The hit was the first of Orf's career. He had a home run pulled back in game one when Illinois State centrerfielder Joe Butler made a leaping catch at the center field wall.

"Brennan Orf had a couple of really good at-bats," Lyons said. "He has been swinging it well and that is why he is in the lineup right now. He has earned it."

That run on two hits was the extent of SIUE's offense in game two. Illinois State starter Jordan Lussier and Jared Hart and Garrett Witcher out of the bullpen held the Cougars hitless over the final five innings.

Meanwhile, the Redbird scored eight runs over the final three innings against the SIUE bullpen.

"The second game got away from us in the bullpen," Lyons said. "We had some inability to throw strikes which led to some free bases and allowed them to put up some big innings."

The Cougars showed off some impressive defense in game two, cutting down a pair of Illinois State runners from the outfield. In the second inning SIUE centerfielder Brett Johnson hit relay-man Brett Pierson who fired a strike home to catch the Redbirds' Jeremy Gaines at the plate. In the fifth inning, Cougar right fielder Parker Wielt and shortstop Josh Ohl combined to nail Illinois State's Aidan Huggins at third base, where Kiffer made the tag.

"When you've not been outside, to have your guys be able to do those things correctly are positive things to take away," Lyons said. "Those are things you practice all fall and you talk about them. The guys did a great job executing those relays."

SIUE now travels to Wichita State for a weekend series beginning Friday.