CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. – Ashley Ellis hit two home runs and Rachel Rook threw her fifth complete game shutout of the season to lead red-hot Southeast Missouri (16-10, 12-1) to 7-0 series opening win over Eastern Illinois (16-9, 9-5) Friday afternoon.
 
SEMO increased its Ohio Valley Conference winning streak to 11 games and posted its ninth-straight victory overall. Friday's win also marked the Redhawks 13th in 14 contests. 
 
With runners on first and second after Katie Dreiling singled and Kaylee Anderson reached on a fielder's choice, Ellis stepped in and belted her first home run of the game to right field giving SEMO a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning.
 
The Redhawks added to their lead in the bottom of the fifth when freshman Jillian Anderson smacked a three-RBI bases clearing double to make it a 6-0 ballgame.
 
Ellis capped the win with another home run, this time a solo shot to right field in the sixth.
 
Ellis went 2-for-4 with two runs scored and four RBI as the multiple home run game was the seventh of her career and third this season. She also ran her career home run total to 45 and needs four more to break the program's all-time record currently held by Michelle Summers (48, 2005-08).
 
SEMO finished with seven hits. Kynzie Wrigley, J. Anderson, Dreiling, Karsyn Davis and Austine Pauley followed with one hit apiece.
 
Rook (11-5), who went over 300 strikeouts in her career and 100 this season, struck out seven, walked none and allowed four hits in seven sparkling innings. It was the third complete game shutout in Rook's last four starts.
 
Olivia Price (6-3) took the loss. Price scattered six hits, gave up six runs, struck out four and walked none in 4.2 innings.
 
Megan Burton had two of EIU's four hits. The Panthers left four runners on base, all of which were in scoring position.
 
SEMO and EIU close out their series with a 12 p.m., CT doubleheader Saturday.