EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. (Interstat) — Spencer Stearns delivered a dominant eight-inning start and Ryan Niedzwiedz homered as SIU Edwardsville cruised past Tennessee Tech 8-1 in Ohio Valley Conference baseball Saturday at Roy E. Lee Field at Simmons Baseball Complex.

The Cougars (13-14, 2-0 OVC) clinched the series victory after winning the opener Friday afternoon, while the Golden Eagles (9-18, 0-2) dropped their fifth straight game.

The most important part of the game came immediately, as SIU Edwardsville seized control with a four-run first inning against Tennessee Tech starter Nick Holpuch. Chase Bloomer led off with a single and scored on Niedzwiedz’s RBI double down the right field line. John Michael Mitchell followed with an RBI single to plate Niedzwiedz. After a walk and a sacrifice bunt, right fielder Terrick Thompson-Allen drove a two-run single through the right side, with a second run scoring on a fielding error by left fielder Preston Rooker, staking the Cougars to a 4-1 lead before an out was recorded.

That outburst was more than enough for Stearns (2-0), who continued his recent mastery. The right-hander allowed just one earned run on three hits over eight strong innings, striking out six and walking one. He retired 15 of the final 17 batters he faced after allowing a second-inning run. In his last two starts, Stearns has pitched 15 innings, allowing two earned runs on three total hits.

Tennessee Tech’s lone run came in the second inning. Owen Lee singled, advanced on a hit-by-pitch and a walk, and scored on a sacrifice fly by catcher Mack Garza. Lee was a bright spot for the Golden Eagles, going 3 for 4 with a double.

SIU Edwardsville extended its lead in the third when Niedzwiedz launched a solo home run to deep right field, his second hit of the day. The Cougars added two more in the fourth on an RBI single by Bloomer, and tacked on two unearned runs in the fifth on a two-run triple by Brenden Fry, making it 8-1.

Golden Eagles reliever Cooper Casteel provided stability after the rocky first, pitching 6 2/3 innings of relief. He allowed four runs, only two earned, on six hits while striking out five. Drew Kirby pitched a scoreless eighth for Tennessee Tech.

Wyatt Doak closed out the game for SIU Edwardsville in the ninth, allowing two hits but inducing a game-ending double play.

The Cougars out-hit the Golden Eagles 11 to 5. Bloomer went 3 for 5 with an RBI and two runs scored, while Thompson-Allen was 2 for 4 with two RBIs.

The series concludes Sunday afternoon.