EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. – Illinois State snapped a 3-3 tie with a six-run ninth inning and went on to beat SIUE baseball 9-5 in the Cougars' home opener Tuesday at Roy E. Lee Field.

The Cougars fell to 1-3 for the year, while ISU improved to 3-1.

Illinois State scored a run in the first against SIUE starter Noah Thompson, before SIUE responded with a three-run bottom of the inning.

Terrick Thompson-Allen doubled to drive in a run, Ryan Niedzwiedz brought home another with a groundout and Ethan Willoughby added an RBI-single.

Thompson worked into the third before being relieved. He allowed just the run on one hit in his collegiate debut. He struck out four but walked five.

The Redbird tied the game with two runs in the sixth against SIUE reliever Kyle Rossy before the outburst in the ninth.

ISU used four hits and three walks to score six times in the ninth against relievers Noah Johnson (0-1) and Gabriel Nutter.

Easton Harris hit his first home run in an SIUE uniform to get two back for the Cougars in the bottom of the inning.

Harris came off the bench and finished 2-2 with the home run and a double. Willoughby finished 2-3.

Three Redbirds had two hits in the win. Reece Clapp (1-0) worked the final two innings for the win.

SIUE returns to the road for a weekend series at Southeastern Louisiana beginning Friday.