BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – Freshman two-way player Maddi Rutan hit the go-ahead home run while tossing 7.0 innings with three strikeouts to power the Eastern Kentucky University softball team over Western Kentucky by a score of 2-1 on Wednesday night.
 
With the win, EKU (17-4) earned its eighth straight on the season and first in Bowling Green since 2021.  The Colonels would later go on to capture the conference championship for the third time in program history, appearing in the NCAA Knoxville Regional.
 
Rutan (9-2) moves her season earned run average to 1.18 holding the Hilltoppers to just one run in seven innings.  
 
EKU's extra base hits came from Maggie Pertee (2B) in the fourth inning and Rutan's (HR) came in the top of the seventh.
 
Four Colonel batters ended the night going 1-for-3 from the plate.  WKU (15-8-1) narrowly out-hit EKU 5 to 4.
 
Western Kentucky struck first as 6-hole hitter Kelsey Schmidt sent a homer over the left field fence.
 
EKU responded in the top of the third equalizing the game 1-1 as freshman Kennedy Drafton brought in Madison Scott on a single to right.
 
The Colonels had two hits from innings three through six, leaving just one on the base paths.
 
Rutan led the top of the seventh with a solo home run to center field, giving EKU a 2-1 lead over WKU.  She then closed the game forcing the Hilltoppers into two ground outs and one pop out to secure win No. 17.
 
Next Up
EKU returns to action on Friday and Saturday opening Atlantic Sun Conference play on the road at Central Arkansas.