EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. – All nine starters had at least a hit Wednesday as SIUE downed Blackburn 14-1 in seven innings at Roy E. Lee Field.

SIUE improved to 14-23 with the win. Blackburn fell to 4-24.

"It was good for our guys," SIUE Head Coach Sean Lyons said. "We talked about how to approach tonight. We asked them to play against the game and not the scoreboard."

SIUE scored three times in the first inning and never looked back. The Cougars scored runs in six of seven innings, including seven runs in a seven-hit third inning where SIUE sent 12 batters to the plate.

Dimitri Ivetic made his first career start and tossed three perfect innings striking out four hitters in the process.

"It was really impressive and I'm really happy for him and with the way he performed," Lyons said of Ivetic. "That momentum just fed to everyone else and allowed us to pitch really well the rest of the night."

Four other pitchers threw an inning apiece. Kyle Athmer (2-2) tossed a scoreless fourth inning striking out one. SIUE didn't walk a batter during the game.

Nicholas Ibrahim led the Cougars at the plate. He was 4-4 with a solo home run, three RBIs and two runs scored.

"We got some big nights offensively, specifically Nick Ibrahim who had a four-hit night," Lyons added.

Lucas Spence was 2-3 with a pair of RBIs and three runs scored. He extended hitting streak to 22 games. Mateo Casillas was 2-3 with an RBI and two runs scored. Ethan Willoughby was 2-5 with an RBI.

The Cougars return to Ohio Valley Conference play with a three-game series on the road at Western Illinois beginning Friday.

"Every weekend is important," Lyons said. "Everyone is jumbled up in the middle of the pack. You have to try to separate yourselves and playing good baseball is the trend that we're on right now. We hope for that to continue this weekend."