CONWAY, Ark. – EKU softball opens Atlantic Sun Conference play with a 9-0 win in six innings over defending league champion Central Arkansas on Friday night at Farris Field.
 
With the win, EKU (18-4, 1-0 ASUN) has won nine straight games have outscored its last four opponents 42-1.
 
Maddi Rutan (10-2) earns the win going the full 5.0 innings with three strikeouts.  The Columbus, Indiana native improves her ERA to 1.10 on the season with 54 K's.
 
Jeanay Riley led the Colonels going 2-for-3 from the plate with a season-high four RBIs and one walk. 
 
Rutan (2-3), Jaelin Haynes (2-3), and Lilly Davis (2-2) were the other three Colonels with multi-hit performances.  EKU out-hit Central Arkansas by a wide 11-2 gap.
 
EKU opened Friday's game with a 4-run top of the second off a double from Davis and singles by Riley and Madison Scott.
 
The Colonels padded their lead to six in the top of the third as Haynes double to left center and a Davis sac-fly, scoring Haynes.
 
A Rutan single to right field brought in Kennedy Drafton, the ASUN leader in offense, to extend a 7-0 lead for the visiting team.
 
Riley pushed a 2-RBI single through the left side, giving the Colonels their 9-0 lead.  Rutan, who had three strikeouts through innings 1-4, forced UCA into two ground outs and a fly out to end Friday's game in five innings.
 
Next Up
EKU returns to action tomorrow going for the series with a 2 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. EST doubleheader against Central Arkansas.  Fans can find the action streamed live on ESPN+.