EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. – SIUE starter Spencer Stearns tossed seven innings Sunday, but the Cougars came up short, falling to Omaha 2-1 in the finale of a three-game series at Roy E. Lee Field.

The Cougars fell to 3-13. Omaha improved to 2-12. The Mavericks won the final two games of the series after SIUE won Friday's opener.

"It honestly was a disappointing weekend just in the overall performance and the way we played," SIUE Head Coach Sean Lyons said. "The fight and energy were there today. We couldn't get much going offensively all weekend."

Stearns (0-3) allowed just two runs, one of which was earned, on five hits over seven innings. He struck out a career-best eight hitters.

"It was a great outing for 'Spence," Lyons said. "He just really pitched well. That's two weeks in a row. He is solidifying himself as a guy in the rotation."

Omaha scored an unearned run in the second following a two-out Cougar error. The Mavericks added a run in the fifth on a pair of hits to lead 2-0.

The Cougars' only run came in the bottom of the ninth inning. Gage Franck singled to open the inning then scored on a double by John Stallcup and an error in the Omaha outfield.

"We were there in the bottom of the ninth with the opportunity to tie," Lyons said. "We had a couple of instances late where guys were able to get on base early in the inning, but we weren't able to bring them around to score."

SIUE left eight runners on total and five in scoring position. The Cougars left the bases loaded in the sixth inning.

"We had a few situations today with runners on first and second and nobody out and we have nothing to show for it," Lyons added. "A couple of times we had runners in scoring position and we couldn't get the big hit or move the guy and get ourselves into a situation to win the game."

Lucas Spence and Duncan McLaughlin each worked scoreless outings in relief. Spence struck out two.

"It was nice to see Lucas Spence and Duncan McLaughlin come in and put up zeroes out of the bullpen, Lyons said.

The Cougars outhit the Mavericks 8-7. Spence and Chase Bloomer each had two hits. Both of Bloomer's hits were doubles.

"After BP today, he went and did some extra work in the cage," Lyons said of Bloomer. "And he gets rewarded with two doubles. That's something you can't overlook.

"On days like this and weekends like this you have to find the positives," Lyons continued. "The pitching performance and getting Chase going, since he's been struggling a little bit, was definitely positives."

Preston Tenney (1-1) started and threw five scoreless innings to get the win for Omaha. Haiden Hunt and Trent Burkhalter each had RBIs for the Mavericks.

SIUE will conclude a season-long 10-game home stand Wednesday when Gonzaga comes to Simmons Baseball Complex for a 4 p.m. game.

"We just try to continue to get better week after week," Lyons said.