RICHMOND, Ky. – Despite winning the series on Friday, EKU softball drops the Saturday finale to North Alabama by a close score of 2-1 at Gertrude Hood Field.
 
With the loss, EKU (26-5, 8-1 ASUN) has its 17-game win streak snapped, which was the second longest active streak in DI behind Tennessee.  EKU's 17 consecutive wins was the second longest in program history behind the 2021 team's 18, which was cut short due to the pandemic.
 
Jeanay Riley and Vianna Barron led the Colonels going 2-for-4 from the plate on Saturday.  In EKU's six hits, Riley was the only Colonel to record an extra base hit, sending a double to the gap late in the game.
 
EKU's Lauren Narvaez (2-1) earned the loss allowing North Alabama to tally both its runs in the top of the first, going just 1.0 inning while facing six batters.
 
Maddi Rutan went the rest of the game facing 20 batters with eight strikeouts, only allowing one hit in 6.0 innings of work.  Over the weekend, Rutan pitched 12.0 innings with 13 strikeouts and just one earned run.
 
The Colonels had the chance to go ahead in the bottom of the second as Riley sent a single up the middle that brought home Jasmine Miller.  
 
EKU reached base six times after the second inning, but was unable to score the tying run, ending with the team's first loss since February 26 in Utah.
 
Next Up
EKU returns to action next weekend facing Stetson on the road from April 6-7.  All three games will be available live on ESPN+.