NORMAL, Ill. – SIUE baseball dopped a back-and-forth contest Wednesday, falling at Illinois State 6-5 at Duffy Bass Field.

SIUE fell to 8-13 with the loss. Illinois State is 14-7. The Redbirds swept the season series from the Cougars after winning earlier this season in Edwardsville.  

The Redbirds took a 3-0 lead in the first inning against SIUE starter Noah Thompson. After a walk and single, Luke Stugla homered for the 3-0 lead.

SIUE took the lead with four runs in the second inning. Brendan Fry got the Cougars on the board with a sacrifice fly to drive in Ethan Willoughby who had doubled to start the inning. Terrick Thompson-Allen doubled then scored on a single by Jose Fichera. Daniel Gierer doubled home Fichera and then scored himself on a double by Chase Bloomer.

Illinois State went back on top with two runs in the fourth inning, but the Cougars tied it in the bottom of the inning when Mack Mitchell scored on a double steal attempt which caught Thompson-Allen at second.

Brayden Bakes homered off SIUE reliever Andrew Ressler (0-1) in the sixth to put Illinois State on top for good.

The Redbirds outhit the Cougars 10-9 in the game. Thompson-Allen led SIUE at the plate going 3-4 with the run scored.

SIUE goes on the road to open OVC play with a three-game series at Morehead State beginning Friday.