PEORIA, Ill. (Interstat) — Kyle Mager launched a three-run homer in a nine-run ninth inning Sunday afternoon, capping a five-RBI day and powering Southern Illinois to a 13-5 rout of Bradley in Missouri Valley Conference baseball at Dozer Park.

The Salukis (16-22, 3-0 MVC) completed a three-game series sweep of the Braves (8-32, 0-6) by erupting late, turning a tight 4-2 contest through five innings into a lopsided victory.

Southern Illinois led 4-2 entering the sixth before adding two runs in that frame on a two-run double by Cecil Lofton and another in the seventh on a solo homer by Jaden Flores. Bradley answered with an unearned run in the bottom of the seventh to trim the deficit to 7-5, setting the stage for the Salukis’ decisive final outburst.

The ninth inning saw 14 Salukis come to the plate. Kye Watson started the scoring with a two-run single, Tim Simay added an RBI single, and Mager punctuated the rally by driving a 1-0 pitch over the left-field wall for his first home run of the season, scoring three.

Mager, the designated hitter, finished 2 for 5. His other RBI came on a first-inning single that opened the scoring. Flores went 3 for 5 with a double, a homer and two runs scored. Lofton drove in two runs, and Watson had three RBIs.

Bradley shortstop Sohrab Rezaei provided the Braves’ offensive highlight with a solo home run in the fifth inning. Michael Quick had a two-run single in the first.

The win went to Salukis starter Meade Johnson (1-0), who worked five innings, allowing four earned runs on eight hits with two strikeouts. The Southern Illinois bullpen combined for four scoreless innings of relief, with Ryan Halamicek, Dawson Hargrove and Dylan Petrey allowing just one hit.

Bradley starter Josh Vaughn (0-1) took the loss, surrendering two earned runs on three hits over three innings.

The game’s most critical sequence came in the bottom of the eighth inning with Southern Illinois leading 7-5. Bradley had runners on first and second with one out against reliever Dawson Hargrove. AJ Garcia lifted a fly ball to right field, where Watson made the catch and fired to second base to double off the runner and end the threat, preserving the two-run lead and setting up the Salukis’ game-breaking ninth.

Southern Illinois next plays at Southeast Missouri State on Tuesday. Bradley travels to face Northwestern on Tuesday.