EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. – SIUE regained at least a share of first place in the Ohio Valley Conference with a 10-4 win over Southern Indiana Thursday at Simmons Baseball Complex.

The Cougars improved to 9-4 in the OVC and 16-20 overall. USI is 7-6 in the league and 16-21 overall.

Tim Teixeira (3-2) started and tied his career high with seven innings of work. He gave up four runs and struck out seven. Liam McKillop picked up the save with two scoreless innings. He struck out two.

The Screaming Eagles took a 2-0 lead with a single run in each of the first two innings. Kyle Ratliff connected for a one-out solo homer in the second to get SIUE on the board.

It was 3-1 USI when the Cougars scored three times in the fourth inning. Ryan Niedzwiedz led off the inning with his fourth homer of the year. Joshua Heyder walked, Kyle Ratliff was hit by a pitch and Ethan Wiloughby singled to load the bases. Lane Crowdwen, who spent two seasons at Southern Indiana before coming to SIUE, drove in two with a line drive to left center.

SIUE added single runs in the sixth and the seventh and Southern Indiana scored a run in the seventh and it was 6-4 heading to the eighth, when SIUE scored four more runs on five hits. Chase Bloomer, Niedzwiedz, Ratliff and Willoughby each drove in runs in the inning.

Bloomer, Ratliff, Willoughby and Crowden finished with two hits for SIUE, which outhit USI 11-6 in the game.

Micajah Wall was 2-4 to lead the Screaming Eagles at the plate.

USI starter Sage Stout (3-2) allowed four runs over three innings in the loss.

SIUE and USI will finish the series with a Friday doubleheader beginning at 11 a.m. at Roy E. Lee Field.