CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. – A nine-run eighth inning helped SIUE overcome an eight-run deficit and score a come-from-behind 13-9 win over Southeast Missouri Friday at Capaha Field. in the second game of a three-game Ohio Valley Conference baseball series.

The Cougars improved to 3-2 in OVC play and 9-18 overall. Southeast Missouri fell to 13-14 overall and 4-1 in the league.

"It was a great comeback for the guys," SIUE Head Coach Sean Lyons said. "They showed a ton of resiliency. I am proud of the effort tonight."

Trailing 9-3, the Cougars sent 12 men to the plate in the eighth inning and nine of them scored. SIUE loaded the bases on a hit by pitch and two walks. Five hits, a fielder's choice and three errors later, the Cougars held a 12-9 lead. Lucas Spence, Ryan Niedzwiedz, Ethan Wiloughby, Gage Franck and John Stallcup all had run-scoring singles in the inning.

"We got some breaks, but we were very persistent," Lyons added. "We had to be opportunistic. We took advantage and when you get the ball rolling, it can be hard to stop."

SIUE took advantage of a two-out SEMO error to tack on an insurance run in the top of the ninth.

Southeast Missouri built an 8-0 lead thanks to four runs in the first inning, two more in the second inning and two in the fourth inning on a two-run home run from Josh Cameron.

The Cougars got on the board in the sixth inning. Spence led off the inning with a single over first base, extending his hitting streak to 12 games. Chase Bloomer followed with an infield hit to the right side. Franck then lined a double down the left field line to drive home the first run.

Cameron pushed SEMO's lead to 9-1 with his second homer of the night in the sixth inning.  

Drew Mize made it 9-2 when he drove in Daniel Gierer with a one-out, RBI-hit to center in the seventh inning. The Cougars then loaded the bases before Ethan Willoughby was hit by a pitch to make it 9-3.

Alex Rodriguez (2-2) earned the win with three innings of relief. He allowed a run and struck out a season-high six hitters.

"Alex has done a nice job in his last couple of outings," Lyons said. "We gave him the ball and asked him just to keep it where it was."

Liam McKillop worked a scoreless eighth inning and struck out two. Duncan McLaughlin finished the game with a perfect ninth inning. He struck out one.

"Those two guys have been really good for us at the end of games," Lyons said of McKillop and McLaughlin. "Their roles have been somewhat interchangeable."

The Cougars finished with 12 hits. Spence, Bloomer, Franck and Mize all had two hits apiece. Franck drove in three runs and scored a run. Spence scored a team-high three runs and added an RBI.

"Gage Franck had a big offensive night," Lyons said. "Spence can apply pressure in so many ways. When you factor in what he does defensively, he is doing a little bit of everything right now."

The Cougars will look to make it back-to-back series wins in the Saturday finale. First pitch is slated for 2 p.m.