CONWAY, Ark. – Riding an eight-game win streak, EKU softball opens Atlantic Sun Conference play this weekend against defending league champion Central Arkansas from March 15-16 at Farris Field.
 
EKU will play a three-game series against UCA beginning Friday at 7 p.m. EST and conclude with a 2 p.m. & 4:30 p.m. EST doubleheader on Saturday.  Fans can purchase tickets here.
 
Saturday's doubleheader will be streamed on ESPN plus, scheduled to begin around five minutes before first pitch of game one.
 
EKU (17-4) is coming off a 2-1 win last night at in-state rival Western Kentucky.  Maddi Rutan shined in the victory, earning her ninth win this season in the circle while hitting a go-ahead solo home run in the top of the seventh.
 
Fellow freshman Kennedy Drafton continues to lead EKU and the ASUN Conference with a .462 batting average in 20 games played.  The Pearland, Texas native is second in the league with 19 RBIs.
 
Eight of EKU's nine traditional starters are hitting over .295 on the season.  The Colonels are first in the ASUN Conference offensively with a .314 team batting average, 132 runs, 120 RBIs, and a .477 slugging percentage.
 
The Colonels have won their last eight games on the 2024 season and have won two of their last three ASUN series dating back to last year.
 
With four game cancellations due to inclement weather in the Richmond area, EKU is third to last in the ASUN Conference with only 21 games played.  Nearly 60 percent of teams in the conference have played three or more games than the Colonels, including North Alabama, who's played 28 games this season.
 
UCA (8-16) is coming off an 8-0 loss last night at Oklahoma State, marking losses in three of its last five games.  The Sugar Bears own a 6-7 record at home this season, hosting 14 of their last 15 games at Farris Field.
 
Senior infielder Morgan Nelson leads UCA with seven doubles, two home runs, and 24 RBIs.  Junior Kylie Griffin has a team-leading .406 batting average and 28 hits.