ST. GEORGE, Utah – Entering play this weekend with a 9-0 overall record, the best start to a season in program history, EKU softball departs to Utah for five games in the Utah Tech Tournament from Feb. 24-26 at Karl Brooks Field.
 
EKU head coach Jane Worthington, a Washington, Utah native and 1982 graduate of Utah State, returns to the Beehive State for just the second time in her Colonel coaching career.  
 
In 32 seasons at the helm of the Colonels, EKU's only head coach in program history, Worthington has amassed 875 wins, the 22nd most wins among active DI head coaches.
 
EKU will open the Utah Tech Tournament on Saturday, playing two games against Weber State at 12 p.m. EST and Utah State at 5 p.m. EST.
 
Tournament play continues Sunday with a similar day against Weber State at 12 p.m. EST and Utah State at 2:30 p.m. EST.  The first four games of the tournament will not be streamed, fans can keep up with the action following live stats here.
 
To end the tournament, EKU will face host-school Utah Tech on Monday at 1 p.m. EST and can be viewed on WAC International ($) here.
 
EKU (9-0) enters this weekend with its best start to a season in program history, after winning both the Wofford Invitational and South Alabama Invitational in the team's first two weekends of the season.  EKU earned a leading five student-athletes selected to the USA All-Tournament Team.
 
The Colonels efforts have been highlighted by freshman two-way player, Maddi Rutan, who in six appearances in the circle has a 5-0 overall record with 26 strikeouts and a 1.19 ERA.  In two starts, Rutan has thrown a perfect game and a one-hitter.
 
As of Friday, Feb. 23, Rutan is tied for second in the NCAA with the most wins (5) in the country.  The Columbus, Indiana native is high in the nation's leaderboard with student-athletes from power five schools like Florida, Penn State, Arizona, and Houston.
 
Offensively, the Colonels are led by freshman infielder Kennedy Drafton who is 14-of-29 (.483) from the plate with 10 runs and 11 RBIs.  Drafton belted her first career home run, which was a grand slam, to prop EKU to victory in 15-12 fashion over Central Michigan.
 
Three other Colonels, Madison Scott (.462), Jaelin Haynes (.414), and Jasmine Miller (.407) sport above .400 batting averages while six of EKU's nine traditional starters are hitting above .350 percent.
 
Entering the weekend, EKU leads all Atlantic Sun Conference programs in doubles, doubles per game, scoring, and shutouts while eight individuals lead the league in statistical categories.
 
After EKU's trip to Utah, the Colonels will return home to host the Colonel Classic from March 1-3.  Season tickets and single game tickets are available now online here or by calling the EKU Ticket Office at 859-622-2122.