LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The Eastern Kentucky University softball team completed a sweep of in-state Atlantic Sun Conference foe Bellarmine by a shutout score of 8-0 on Sunday afternoon at Knights Field.
 
With the win, EKU (36-5, 17-1 ASUN) has won eight consecutive ASUN Conference series dating back to the 2023 season, six of those resulting in three-game sweeps.  EKU has won 28 of its last 29 games since Feb. 26 and are on a 10-game winning streak since March 30.
 
Sunday's result also marks a 17-1 record for the Colonels in ASUN Conference play, helping keep EKU's No. 1 seed hunt at 3.0 games over current No. 2 North Florida. 
 
Senior Vianna Barron led the Colonels going 6-for-11 over the weekend with two doubles and one home run, resulting in 10 runs batted in.
 
Senior Jeanay Riley went 6-for-12 over the weekend, Maggie Pertee went 5-for-11, and two-way product Maddi Rutan went 2-0 throwing 11.0 innings with nine strikeouts while bringing in two RBIs.
 
Game Two: EKU 9, Bellarmine 2
Colonel pitcher Tayteum Vigansky earned the nod in game two on Saturday, ending with a 7.0 inning complete game with three strikeouts.
 
EKU scored three in the top of the first, dooming the Knights' effort as Barron homered and freshman Makayla Mathis reached base on a fielder's choice, bringing in runs.
 
Despite the quick start, EKU was unable to score until the sixth inning, nevertheless adding six insurance runs off a homer from Jasmine Miller, a one-run single from Pertee, a two-run double by Barron, and Lilly Davis 2-run blast to deep left field, extending a 9-0 lead.
 
Bellarmine brought in two runs in the bottom of the sixth but was unable to overcome the Colonels pressure resulting in a 9-2 series loss.  Viganksy (7-1) earned the win with three Ks.
 
Game Three: EKU 8, Bellarmine 0
Rutan earned the starting nod as EKU went for a series sweep, living up to the tale tossing 6.0 inning shutout only allowing two hits with five strikeouts.
 
The Colonels jumped in the second inning as Mathis singled to the left center gap, scoring pinch runner Kennedy Drafton.  EKU added another run in the top of the third as Davis doubled to deep left, bringing in Pertee for a 2-0 lead.
In the top of the fifth, EKU extended its lead to 6-0 off hits from Barron, Miller, and a sac-fly from Rutan.
 
Barron brought in two more runs off a single to right, ending the contest at 8-0 EKU with little production from the Bellarmine offense.
 
Rutan (21-2) earned her 21st win of her freshman campaign while striking out five Knights.
 
Next Up
EKU continues its regional road swing on Tuesday with a midweek doubleheader at Miami Ohio (36-7, 18-1 MAC).  Both teams are currently ranked inside the top 60 of the NCAA RPI poll.