EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. – Mack Mitchell's lead-off home run in the bottom of the eighth inning broke a 4-4 tie Wednesday and SIUE wrapped up a 10-game home stand with a 5-4 win over Gonzaga at Roy E. Lee Field.

SIUE improved to 4-13. Gonzaga fell to 3-11.

"This was a really well-played game," SIUE Head Coach Sean Lyons said. "It was a big team win for us against a quality opponent."

The Cougars trailed 4-3 in the sixth when they took advantage of a Bulldogs' error to tie the score 4-4.

Mithell's home run, the first of SIUE career, came on a 2-2 pitch from hard-throwing Gonzaga reliever Liam O'Brien (0-1).

Gonzaga took a 1-0 lead in the second inning when Jace Phelan homered off SIUE starter Garrett Helsel. It was the only run he allowed in four innings. He struck out four.

Gage Franck led off the second inning with a solo home run to left to tie the score before the Cougars took the lead when Daniel Gierer scored on a wild pitch. Gierer made it 3-1 SIUE with a lead-off home run in the fourth inning. Gierer finished the day 3-4 the homer and three runs scored.

"Gierer is a young guy who has really stepped in a contributed for us," Lyons said. "He's a fun player and he works really hard, so I am happy for his success today."

Gonzaga took the lead with two runs in the fifth and another in the sixth.

Alex Rodriguez (1-2) earned the win with two scoreless innings in relief. He allowed a hit and struck out one. Duncan McLaughlin recorded his first save with a perfect ninth inning, including a strikeout.

"Alex Rodriguez out of the bullpen was fantastic and of course so was Duncan McLaughlin to close out," Lyons added.

Lucas Spence finished with two hits for the Cougars. Both Gonzaga and SIUE finished with seven hits.

"This is a huge confidence-builder for the guys in that locker room," Lyons added. "They show up every day and they're working. At some point in time, you have to be rewarded. Today was one of those days. We just need to build on it and continue to stack days on one another and good things will happen to you."

SIUE travels to Chicago for a three-game series against UIC beginning Friday.