CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. – Andrew Keck went 3-for-4 with a home run, run scored, two RBI and a stolen base, and Peyton Leeper added a grand slam to lead Southeast Missouri (11-1) to a 9-1 series-opening victory over Valparaiso (5-4) on a chilly Saturday afternoon.
 
SEMO picked up its ninth consecutive win and remained undefeated at Capaha Field with an 8-0 mark. 
 
The Redhawks were up 4-1 when Leeper busted the game open with his first career grand slam. Leeper homered with two outs for his second round-tripper in as many games. The grand slam marked the Redhawks third of the season, all which came on their home diamond.
 
An inning later, Keck stepped in and blasted a solo home run over the left field wall to widen SEMO's lead to 9-1. For Keck, it was his fourth homer of the season and 13th of his career.
 
VALPO struck first when it drew back-to-back walks and scored the game's first run on a two-out base hit by Adam Brauch in its opening at-bat.
 
A leadoff walk by Jevon Mason and a hit batsman gave SEMO two quick baserunners to start the bottom of the first inning. Following a double steal that put Mason at third and Peyton Leeper at second, Tyler Wilber grounded out and Mason scored. Andrew Keck singled up the middle and Leeper scored to give the Redhawks their first lead at 2-1.
 
SEMO tacked on another run to its lead with the help of two errors in the bottom of the second. Joel Vaske ripped a leadoff double to right and scored when Mason reached on an error.
 
The Redhawks extended their lead in the bottom of the fourth when Mason hit an opposite field double to knock in Ben Palmer giving SEMO a three-run cushion.
 
In his first career game one start as a Redhawk, right-hander Jason Rackers worked four innings. Rackers recorded six strikeouts, walked three and gave up one run on six hits of his no-decision.
 
Hunter Ralls (2-0) took over for Rackers in the fifth and gave SEMO four strong innings en route to claiming his second win. Ralls retired the first six hitters he faced and allowed only one hit in four shutout innings. Additionally, he matched a career-high five strikeouts and walked one.
 
SEMO outhit the Beacons, 9-7. Vaske, too, finished with multiple hits going 2-for-4 with two runs scored. Mason, Leeper and Palmer each scored twice for the Redhawks.
 
Trent Turzenski (2-1) suffered the loss. Turzenski scattered eight hits and allowed eight runs in 5.2 innings. He also struck out six and walked four.
 
VALPO left 12 runners on base.
 
The Redhawks and Beacons will conclude their series with a 12 p.m., CT doubleheader Sunday.