EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. – SIUE baseball dropped a 5-1 decision to SIU Carbondale Wednesday night in a game which included a 1:45 minute weather delay at Roy E. Lee Field.

SIUC improved to 33-15 and have won four straight in the series. The Cougars are 23-23.

The Salukis took a 1-0 lead in the third with an unearned run against SIUE starter Gabriel Nutter. Nutter worked three innings.

Before the fourth inning could get underway, the teams were pulled off the field because of lightning.  

It stayed 1-0 until the seventh when the Cougars tied the score on three hits. Daniel Gierer doubled and Mack Mitchell followed with a single with one out to even the game at 1-1.

The Salukis got a run back in the eighth against SIUE reliever Kieran Bailey (0-2). SIUC added three runs in the top of the ninth for the 5-1 final.

The Salukis outhit the Cougars 10-8. Gierer led SIUE with two hits.

Cecil Lofton had two hits and two RBIs to pace the Salukis.

SIUE returns to Ohio Valley Conference play with a weekend series against Eastern Illinois beginning Friday at Simmons Baseball Complex.