EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. – SIUE picked up its first weekend series win thanks to a 3-2 win over Valparaiso Saturday at Roy E. Lee Field.

The Cougars will look for the sweep in Sunday's finale. First pitch has been moved up to 11 a.m. to avoid weather concerns later in the day.

The Cougars improved to 8-11 with the win. Valparaiso dropped to 5-10 with the loss.

The Cougars got on top with a pair of runs in the first inning against Valpo starter Connor Lockwood (2-3). Ryan Niedzwiedz hit his league-leading eighth home run of the year, and Ethan Willoughby added an RBI-single later in the inning.

SIUE starter Spencer Stearns (1-2) kept the Beacons at bay for his outing. Stearns tossed five scoreless innings, allowing three hits. He struck out four and did not walk a batter.

Joshua Heyder singled home Chase Bloomer in the sixth to extend the SIUE lead to 3-0.

Lockwood allowed all three runs over 7.2 innings. He allowed seven hits and struck out five.

Valpo got on the board in the seventh with a pair of hits against reliever Porter Conn, who worked 1.1 innings in relief for the Cougars.

Thomas Cooper hit his first home run of the year leading off the ninth for the final run. It came against Joseph Martin who pitched two innings in relief.

Easton Harris worked to the final two batters of the game to earn his fourth save of the season.

Niedzwiedz, Heyder and Willoughby all finished with two hits for the Cougars.