SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – Kyle Ratliff's first career grand slam capped a six-run sixth inning as SIUE baseball defeated Missouri State 11-4 in the opener of a three-game weekend series at Hammons Field.

The Cougars have won four of their last five games and improved to 6-10. Missouri State fell to 5-11.

SIUE led 5-4 heading into the ninth inning, when three straight one-out singles brought home a run. Chase Bloomer picked up the RBI when he singled through the right side of the infield. Ryan Niedzwiedz walked to load the bases and Willoughby walked to force home a run. Ratliff followed with his third home run of the season.

SIUE got on the board in the first when Niedzwiedz stole home for the Cougars first run of the day. They added two more in the third when Ethan Willoughby singled to right to drive home Chase Bloomer and Daniel Gierer.

Mack Mitchell and Bloomer hit back-to-back home runs leading off the fifth to extend the Cougars' lead to 5-0.

The Bears plated two runs in the fifth inning and then scored single runs in the sixth and seventh innings to trim the SIUE lead to 5-4.

Bloomer finished 3-5 to boost his season batting average to .367. Mitchell and Niedzwiedz each had two hits.

Freshman Tim Teixeira (1-1) picked up his first career win working five innings in the start. He allowed two runs and struck out six. He now has 24 strikeouts in 21 innings this year.

Kyle Athmer gave up two runs in 1 2/3 of relief. Alex Rodriguez and Tyler Davis finished the game for the Cougars. Rodriguez threw 1 1/3 innings and Davis worked the ninth, striking out all three batters he faced.

Zack Stewart and Nick Rodriguez each had two hits and an RBI to lead the Bears.

Game two of the series is set for 2 p.m. Saturday.