EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. – A six-run first inning propelled Southeast Missouri (18-11, 14-2) to a commanding 11-2 series opening victory over SIU Edwardsville (7-18, 7-11) Saturday afternoon at Cougar Field.
 
SEMO beat SIUE in five innings to claim its fourth mercy rule victory this season.
 
The Redhawks immediately went to work against SIUE starting pitcher Sydney Baalman and never looked back. 
 
With runners at first and second after Jillian Anderson and Rachel Anderson both walked, Kynzie Wrigley knocked in J. Anderson for the first run of the game on a single down the right field line. Moments after Katie Dreiling singled, Kaylee Anderson belted a three-run home run to right center and that was the end of Baalman's day in the circle.
 
Ashley Ellis then stepped in and greeted SIUE reliever Bianca Vozenilek with a solo home run to left center. For Ellis, it was her team-high 12th home run of the season and 46th of her career. On the next play, Austine Pauley tripled and touched home on a wild pitch to give SEMO a quick 6-0 advantage. SEMO scored six or more runs in an inning for the third time this season.
 
The Redhawks tacked on two more runs with the help of a pair of SIUE errors with two outs in the top of the third inning.
 
Pauley hit a one-out single through the left side and advanced to second when Karsyn Davis grounded out. Alyson Tucker singled to right center getting Pauley to third. Tucker stole second and Pauley scored on a throwing error by catcher Amber Storer. R. Anderson's single brought home Tucker to widen SEMO's lead to 8-0.
 
The Cougars scored once in the third and fourth innings before R. Anderson slammed a three-run home run to right center to polish off SEMO's 14th Ohio Valley Conference win.
 
SEMO established new season-highs with its 11 runs and 15 hits against the Cougars.
 
J. Anderson, R. Anderson, Wrigley and Dreiling teamed up for seven hits, five runs scored and five RBI in the top four spots of the Redhawks lineup. A native of Edwardsville, Illinois, R. Anderson had two hits, a home run and four RBI in her return home.
 
Rachel Rook (12-6) went the distance striking out three and giving up two runs on three hits in five innings for her team-high eighth complete game. Rook also ran her record to 9-1 in OVC play.
 
SEMO, which has won 16 of its last 19 games, concludes its series against SIUE with a 1 p.m., CT doubleheader Sunday.