EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. – Southern Indiana recorded three three-run innings Saturday on its way to a 12-4 win over SIUE in the second game of an Ohio Valley Conference series at Simmons Baseball Complex.

SIUE moved to 23-19 overall and 6-8 in OVC play. USI improved to 15-27 overall and 6-11 in the league.

Southern Indiana roughed up SIUE starter Jake Bockenstedt (4-4) to the tune of seven runs on nine hits in just three innings.

The Eagles scored twice in the first inning, before the Cougars tied the game in their half of the first. Josh Ohl hit the first pitch from USI starter Blake Ciuffetelli over the right field fence for his third home run of the year. Avery Owusu-Asiedu added an RBI with a groundout.

USI then scored three runs in the second and another three in the fourth to go up 8-2.

"They jumped on us early, with eight through the fourth inning, and that was just too much for us to overcome," SIUE Head Coach Sean Lyons said.

SIUE got solo home runs from Drew Mize and Owusu-Asiedu in the sixth to cut the lead to 8-4, but Southern Indiana answered in the seventh. The Screaming Eagles scored three more runs with only a single hit, thanks to a walk and two hit batters, to lead 11-4.

Both teams scored a run in the ninth.

USI outhit SIUE 16-10. The Cougars left seven on base against Ciuffetelli (2-0) and Southern Indiana reliever Carter Stamm.

Ciuffetelli allowed four runs over 5 1/3 innings. Stamm earned a save by working the final 3 2/3 innings.

"We didn't do a great job approach-wise offensively to really get any rallies going," Lyons said.

Mize led the way for SIUE at the plate going 3-5 with two RBIs.

The teams will play the rubber game of the series Sunday. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m.

"The goal is to get two of three every weekend," Lyons said. "We just have to move on from an ugly day today and come out ready to play tomorrow. We'll try to clean up some things and win a series."