EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. – SIUE baseball dropped a doubleheader to South Dakota State Saturday falling 8-1 in the opener and 5-4 in the seven-inning nightcap.
The Cougars have dropped eight in a row and fell to 1-10. South Dakota State improved to 6-5.
"It was a tough day honestly," SIUE Head Coach Sean Lyons said.
South Dakota State scored five times in the first two innings in the early game including a four-run five hit first inning.
It was 6-0 SDSU when Ethan Willoughby singled in a run in the bottom of the fourth inning.
South Dakota State added single runs in the sixth and ninth innings.
Garrett Helsel (0-2) allowed six runs over a four-inning start. He struck out five and walked two.
The Cougars finished with five hits from five different players.
SDSU starter Jake Goble (1-1) allowed a run over eight innings. He struck out eight.
"In game one (Goble) did a fantastic job and kind of stymied us from getting in offense," Lyons said. "We fell behind early and couldn't get much going."
SIUE took a 2-1 lead in the second inning of game two. Drew Mize brought in a run with a groundout and Lucas Spence doubled through the ride side to plate a run.
Spence hit his first home run of the year to break a 2-2 tie in the fifth. Gage Franck scored on a balk in the sixth inning for a 4-2 SIUE lead.
After back-to-back singles to open the top of the seventh inning, South Dakota State right fielder Cael Frost connected on a three-run home run to center to put the Jackrabbits in front for good.
"We were just unable to finish the top half of the seventh," Lyons said. "We couldn't get anything going to win the ballgame."
Jacob Kampf made his first career start, throwing four innings allowing a run on three hits. He struck out five.
"We got a quality start from Jacob Kampf," Lyons said. We had things lined up the way we wanted to."
Spence (0-2) tossed 2.2 innings allowing four runs. He struck out four and walked one.
The Cougars and Jackrabbits will finish the four-game series Sunday at Simmons Complex. First pitch is set for 1 p.m.
"It's a long weekend but guys have to come ready to play," Lyons added.