EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. (Interstat) — Mack Mitchell homered twice and drove in three runs Tuesday as SIU Edwardsville erupted to defeat Southern Illinois 16-6 at Roy E. Lee Field.

The Salukis blasted three first-inning homers, including a solo shot from Kye Watson and a two-run homer from Cecil Lofton, to seize a 6-0 lead. The Cougars responded with a relentless offensive attack, scoring in seven of their eight innings. Mitchell’s second homer, a two-run blast in the sixth, capped a six-run inning that broke the game open.

Daniel Gierer and Ryan Niedzwiedz also homered for SIU Edwardsville, which finished with 12 hits. Watson went 3-for-3 for Southern Illinois, which had 10 hits but stranded multiple runners. The Cougars’ bullpen, led by Porter Conn and Brennen Grams, combined for 4 1/3 scoreless innings to secure the win.

SIU Edwardsville improved to 6-11. Southern Illinois fell to 6-9.