OMAHA, Neb. – SIUE baseball exploded for six runs in the sixth inning Saturday and went on to defeat Omaha 14-5 in the opener of a three-game series at Tal Anderson Field.

The Cougars snapped an eight-game losing streak with the win and improved to 3-9. Omaha slipped to 3-9 with the loss.

The 14 runs match a season high for the Cougars who finished with 11 hits.

SIUE scored the six runs on three hits in the sixth while also taking advantage of four Omaha errors to lead 9-2. The Mavericks finished with seven errors in the game. John Stallcup and Mack Mitchell each picked up two-run hits in the inning.

Kyle Ratliff gave the Cougars a 10-2 lead with a solo home run in the seventh inning. The Cougars added two more runs in the eighth inning. Mitchell hit a solo home run and Ethan Willoughby doubled in a pair of runs to make it 13-2.

Gage Franck hit a solo home run of his own in the ninth inning.

Omaha scored three times in the eighth and added a run in the ninth for the 14-6 final.

The Cougars got on the board thanks to a manufactured run in the third. Stallcup singled to open the frame and moved to third on a sac bunt and an error by the Mavericks. He scored when Mitchell grounded into a double play.

Ryan Niedzwiedz tripled to leadoff the fourth inning. He scored on an Ethan Willoughby groundout. Kyle Ratliff walked and scored later in the inning on another error by Omaha.

Tim Teixeira started and worked the first four innings allowing a run on three hits. He struck out three.

Liam McKillop (1-0) allowed three runs in 3 1/3 innings of relief. He struck out five for his first win of the year. Joseph Martin allowed just a run in 1 2/3 innings. He struck out three.

Mitchell, Niedzwiedz and Stallcup each had two hits to lead the Cougars.

Henry Zipay finished with three hits to lead Omaha.

The two teams will wrap up the series with a doubleheader Sunday beginning at noon.