CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo.– Rachel Anderson went 2-for-4 with a run scored and broke the school's all-time career triples record to lead Southeast Missouri (18-7) to a 5-2 win over Missouri State (14-9) Thursday on a windy day at the Southeast Softball Complex.
 
Anderson hit her Ohio Valley Conference high fifth triple of the season in her first at-bat of the game. It was the 19th triple of her career as she surpassed Kathy Rediger (18 triples, 1981-84) for the new record.
 
SEMO's last loss prior to its season-long six-game winning streak came at the hands of MSU on Mar. 2 (7-4). The Redhawks weren't about to let that happen again in their home-opener today.
 
The Redhawks took an early 3-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning with the help of four hits.
 
With one out, Sarah Messex reached on a bunt single and scored on Anderson's ensuing record-breaking triple. Ashley Ellis flied out and Anderson scored. Addison Barnouski homered to left center to cap the big inning. For Barnouski, it was her third homer of the season.
 
The Bears pulled to within a run after scoring once in the third and fifth innings, but that was as close as they would get.
 
SEMO answered with a run in the bottom of the fifth when Ellis knocked in Messex on a single to left field. The Redhawks then added one final tally when Claudia Gallo scored on an error in the sixth.
 
The Redhawks picked up their third win over a Missouri Valley Conference school in 2019. SEMO has the top four teams in the MVC Preseason Poll on its schedule this season – Drake (1st), Southern Illinois (2nd), Northern Iowa (3rd), Missouri State (4th).
 
Alexis Estes (5-1) earned the win. Estes scattered five hits and allowed two runs in four innings. She struck out two and walked two, as well.
 
SEMO's bullpen did not allow a run once Estes exited the game in the fifth.
 
Freshman Marisa Davis tossed 2.1 shutout innings with two strikeouts and Rachel Rook struck out one and recorded the final two outs of the game to claim her first save of the season.
 
Bailey Greenlee (3-1) suffered the loss. Greenlee pitched two-thirds of an inning giving up three runs on three hits. She faced just six hitters in the first inning.
 
SEMO outhit MSU, 9-7. Rachael Donald joined Anderson with two hits. Messex added a hit, scored two runs and reached base three times, twice via hit by pitch. 
 
The Redhawks ran their record to 21-7 all-time in home-openers since moving to the NCAA Division I ranks in 1992. SEMO is 4-1 in home-openers under head coach Mark Redburn.

SEMO, which has won 11 of its last 13 games, plays in its final tournament at the Saint Louis Billiken Spring Tournament this weekend. The Redhawks face Northern Illinois and Omaha Saturday, and Detroit-Mercy and Omaha Sunday.