CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. – Andrew Keck went 3-for-4 with a home run, two runs and two RBI, and Ben Palmer homered and added three RBI to lead Southeast Missouri (17-5, 3-0) to a 5-2 win over SIU Edwardsville (10-11, 0-3) Sunday afternoon at Capaha Field.
 
SEMO polished off its fourth series sweep of the season. The Redhawks opened Ohio Valley Conference play with a sweep for the first time since 2016. It also marked the first time SEMO swept its opening weekend of conference play under Head Coach Andy Sawyers.
 
Tied, 2-2, SEMO loaded the bases with one out in the bottom of the seventh courtesy of a single by Keck and walks by Brett Graber and Joel Vaske. After a strikeout, Palmer was hit by Cougar reliever Kyle Dixon's pitch and Keck scored the go-ahead run.
 
In the next inning, Tyler Wilber hit a one-out single and Keck followed with a two-run smash opposite field to right stretching the Redhawks lead to 5-2. For Keck, it was his fifth round-tripper of the year.
 
The first three runs between the teams came via the long ball in the third inning.
 
Nine-hole hitter Brett Pierson hit a leadoff home run to left center to give SIUE a one-run lead before SEMO's nine-hole hitter Palmer answered with a two-run homer in the bottom half of the inning. Palmer's second round-tripper of the season put the Redhawks ahead, 2-1.
 
Avery Owusu-Asiedu reached on a one-out single, stole second and scored to tie the game when Richie Well hit a base hit to center in the top of the fourth.
 
Starting right-hander Tommy Windt gave SEMO a nice start working 3.2 innings with six strikeouts and no walks. Windt also gave up two runs on six hits before exiting the game in the fourth.
 
Relievers Blake Cisneros, Austin Williams and Kyle Miller then combined for 5.1 shutout innings the rest of the way. Williams (3-1) earned the win after working 1.1 innings with one strikeout. Miller picked up his second save of the series. He struck out three in two innings retiring six of the eight hitters he faced.
 
Kaid Karnes (1-2) suffered the loss. Karnes gave up three runs and six hits in 6.1 innings. He struck out four and walked one, as well.
 
Both teams closed out the series with eight hits.
 
Wilber (2) and Keck (3) accounted for five of the hits in the heart of SEMO's lineup. Wilber also scored once. Palmer added a game-high three RBI. Addiitonally, 
 
SEMO extended its home winning streak to 13 games. It is its longest home winning streak since the 2016 team won 13 in a row.
 
The Redhawks return to action when they head to Saint Louis on Mar. 29.