EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. – Lucas Spence made it a memorable finish to the 2024 home season for SIUE baseball. It was his one-out single that capped a three-run ninth inning giving the Cougars their third walk-off win of the season. SIUE defeated Tennessee Tech 4-3 to win the Ohio Valley Conference baseball series at Roy E. Lee Field.

SIUE improved to 12-12 in OVC play and 20-30-1 overall. Tennessee Tech is 13-11 in the league and 29-22 overall.

"What a great game today," SIUE Head Coach Sean Lyons said. "It was pitched extremely well by both sides."

The win also clinched an OVC Tournament berth for the Cougars for the third consecutive year, marking the first time that SIUE has qualified in three straight seasons.

With the Cougars trailing 3-1 going into the ninth, Ethan Willoughby reached on an error and Chase Bloomer was walked by Tennessee Tech starter Jaxson Pease, who exited after the walk. John Stallcup followed with a double to the gap in right center off Golden Eagles' reliever Jack Erdman, plating both runners to tie the score. Daniel Gierer reached on an infield single and then with one out, Gage Franck walked to load the bases. Spence singled past a drawn-in Tennessee Tech infielder, bringing Stallcup home with the winning run.

"I'm really proud of the guys and their resilience," Lyons added. "They had plenty of opportunities to hang their heads a bit, but we just kept after it and we were able to get some big hits at the end."

Spence (1-4) clinched the win for himself after he had come on in the eighth inning and recorded the final four outs on the mound. He retired all four hitters he faced.

The win spoiled what was an excellent start for Pease. He worked eight innings, allowing three runs on five hits. He struck out two.

"Pease was outstanding today," Lyons said of the Tennessee Tech starter. "It took until the bottom of the ninth for us to get anything going."

SIUE took a 1-0 lead in the third inning when Drew Mize singled to drive in Spence. Tennessee Tech scored three times in the fifth, capped off by a two-run home run by Hayden Gilliland.

SIUE starter Kyle Athmer allowed all three runs over five innings. He struck out five. Ian Benner and Joseph Martin both added 1.1 scoreless innings in relief.

Spence finished 2-4 at the plate as SIUE outhit Tennessee Tech 8-4.

The Cougars conclude the regular season with a three-game road series at Morehead State. The series begins Thursday in Morehead, Kentucky.

"They're one of the teams fighting at the top and so are we," Lyons said. "It's a big weekend."