EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. – SIUE picked up a 12-6 win over Morehead State Friday in the opener of a three-game series at Roy E. Lee Field. The game was the Ohio Valley Conference opener for both sides.

The Cougars improved to 8-12 overall. Morehead State also is 8-12.

Morehead State built a 4-0 lead over the first three innings before the Cougars mounted a comeback.

SIUE scored three times in the third inning thanks to a catcher's interference call with the bases loaded that forced home run and awarded Joshua Heyder with an RBI. Lane Crowden followed with a two-run single to cut the Morehead State lead to 4-3. Ethan Willoughby's two-out, two-run triple in the fourth gave SIUE a 5-4 lead. They never trailed again.

Bolstered by a three-run home run by Mack Mitchell, the Cougars played six runs in the fifth inning to lead 11-4.

Morehead State scored in the sixth and again in the seventh. The Cougars also added a run in the seventh.

Liam McKillop (2-0) pitched 2 2/3 innings allowing a run on four hits. He walked three and struck out two. Alex Rodriguez also allowed a run over 2 2/3 innings. Duncan McLaughlin finished the game with 1 1/3 scoreless innings. He struck out the side in the ninth inning.

Tim Teixeira started for SIUE and worked 2 1/3 innings. He gave up four runs and stuck out three.

Mitchell paced the Cougars at the plate going 3-4 with the home run and three RBIs. Ethan Willoughby was 2-5 with three RBIs. John Stallcup was 2-5 with an RBI. Crowden was 1-4 with the two RBIs.

Chase Bloomer and Daniel Gierer each had two hits.

MSU starter Trevor Callahan (1-3) allowed nine runs over four innings. He struck out four.

Alex Kean and Andy Cisneros each drove home two for Morehead State.

Game two of the series is set for 1 p.m. Saturday.