EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. – SIUE baseball matched its season best for offensive output for the second straight game, knocking off South Dakota State 11-3 in the opener of a three-game series at Simmons Complex.

The Cougars have won two straight and improved to 3-4 for the season. South Dakota State had a four-game winning streak snapped and dropped to 5-3.

The Cougars built a lead with three runs in each of the first two innings. Brady Bunten plated two with a triple and Raul Elguezabal drove home a run with a base hit to give SIUE a 3-0 lead in the first.

Brett Pierson and Connor Kiffer each picked up RBIs in the second inning. Pierson after reaching on an error and Kiffer on a sacrifice fly.

Each team scored a run in the fourth and in the sixth. Kiffer drove home both. He picked up another sacrifice fly in the fourth and collected his third RBI of the day on a groundout in the sixth.

The Cougars scored three more times in the seventh to push the lead to 11-2. Raul Elguezabal scored on a bases-loaded double play before Josh Ohl and Avery Owusu-Asiedu each picked up RBI-hits.

SIUE starter David Llorens (1-1) picked up his first win of the year in his first start. Llorens allowed two unearned runs on four hits. He struck out seven over 5 1/3 innings. Tyler Bastunas allowed a run, but struck out four in 2 2/3 innings of relief. Quin Waterhouse finished the night with a scoreless ninth. He stuck out two.

SDSU starter Adam Mazur (2-1) surrendered seven runs, four earned, on eight hits over four innings in the start.

Brett Johnson, Elguezabal and Ohl finished with three hits apiece. Bunten finished with the hit and two RBIs and Kiffer finished with a hit and three RBIs.

The Cougars and Jackrabbits play game two of the series Saturday. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m. The game will air on ESPN+.