EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. (Interstat) — In a midweek nonconference clash that defied pregame projections, the SIU Edwardsville Cougars erupted for a 16-6 victory over the Southern Illinois Salukis on Tuesday at Roy E. Lee Field at Simmons Baseball Complex.

The game, played on March 10, 2026, turned into a decisive offensive showcase for the home team, which overcame a six-run deficit in the first inning. Interstat’s game simulator had projected a 5-3 win for Southern Illinois, with the Salukis given a 65.50 percent probability to win by the service’s ELO system. Instead, the Cougars flipped the script entirely.

Southern Illinois wasted no time, ambushing SIU Edwardsville starter Johnson in the top of the first. Kye Watson led off the game with a home run to deep left field. After Steven Kufa was hit by a pitch, Cecil Lofton launched his fourth home run of the season, a two-run shot, to stake the Salukis to a 3-0 lead before an out was recorded. The Salukis added three more in the second on an RBI triple by Matt Flores and a sacrifice fly from Watson, pushing their advantage to 6-0.

The most important part of the game, however, was the immediate and sustained response from the Cougars’ lineup, which began chipping away without delay. Mack Mitchell got SIU Edwardsville on the board in the bottom of the first with a solo home run to center, his fourth of the year. The Cougars then plated three runs in the second, capitalizing on a wild pitch, an RBI groundout from J Kang and a solo homer by Daniel Gierer, his first of the season, to cut the deficit to 6-4.

Ryan Niedzwiedz led off the third with his seventh home run to make it a one-run game. The Cougars finally drew even in the fourth on an RBI groundout by Gierer that scored Terrick Thompson-Allen, who had doubled.

The game remained tied until the bottom of the fifth, when Thompson-Allen gave SIU Edwardsville its first lead with a solo homer to right, his fifth of the year, making it 7-6. The Cougars then broke the game wide open with a four-run sixth inning, keyed by Mitchell’s second homer of the game—a two-run blast to center—and a solo shot from Brett Heyder. Mitchell finished 2 for 5 with two home runs and three RBIs, earning top star honors for the Cougars and breaking out of a recent slump.

SIU Edwardsville put the game out of reach with a five-run seventh inning, highlighted by a two-run double from Chase Bloomer and an RBI single from Niedzwiedz. They added two more in the eighth on a bases-loaded walk from Gierer and a run-scoring single from Bloomer.

While the Cougars’ offense piled up 12 hits, their bullpen was instrumental in the comeback. After the rough start, relievers Porter Conn and Brennen Grams combined for 4 1/3 scoreless innings, allowing just three hits and striking out three. Conn earned the win.

For Southern Illinois, Watson was a bright spot, going 3 for 3 with a home run, a double, two RBIs and two stolen bases. Lofton added a home run and a triple, driving in two. The Salukis managed 10 hits but grounded into two double plays and could not score after the third inning.

With the win, SIU Edwardsville improved to 6-11 on the season, while Southern Illinois fell to 6-9. The Cougars next host Valparaiso for a three-game series starting Friday. The Salukis return home to open a series against Southern Indiana on Friday.