OXFORD, Ohio – Just days after completing a sweep at Bellarmine to secure a berth in the Atlantic Sun Conference Championship, the Eastern Kentucky University softball team travels up I-75 to battle Miami (Ohio) in a midweek test at Miami Softball Stadium.
 
Wednesday's game between the Colonels and Redhawks features the No. 53 and No. 44 teams in the NCAA RPI poll released on Monday morning, respectively.  The contest will begin at 4 p.m. EST.
 
Admission is free to Miami Softball Stadium for fans making the trip to Ohio tomorrow.  Those not able to make the trek can find the game streamed live on Chatterbox Sports ($), the official streaming partner for Miami softball.
 
EKU (36-5, 17-1 ASUN) enters Wednesday's contest winners of 28 of its last 29 games and riding a 10-game win streak.  The Colonels are 3-0 in midweek games against regional opponents this season, including a 6-2 upset win against Louisville last Tuesday.
 
Like EKU, Miami (36-7, 18-1 MAC) is enjoying one of its more memorable seasons to date.  The Redhawks have won 23 of their last 24 games, however, suffered a 9-5 loss last time out in the series finale against Central Michigan on the road.
 
EKU's Vianna Barron is coming off a huge series against Bellarmine, the Elk Grove, California product went 6-for-11 with 10 runs batted in off two doubles and a home run.  She improved her season batting average to .290 in the victories.
 
Freshman two-way phenom Maddi Rutan went 2-0 over the weekend, improving her season record to 21-2 with a 1.13 ERA and 125 strikeouts.  Rutan is top 10 in the country in wins (21), shutouts (9), and earned run average (1.13).
 
Seven of EKU's nine traditional starters are hitting over .290 on the season.  All seven of those Colonels have 26 or more hits this year.  EKU leads the ASUN Conference in batting average, hits, runs, doubles, and runs batted in.
 
Alongside its conference-leading batting totals, EKU remains in first place over No. 2 Florida Gulf Coast by three games and needs four wins to clinch the ASUN Regular Season Championship for the first time as a member of the league and the first time since 2018.
 
Miami has one of the best offenses in the country, leading all NCAA teams in home runs, home runs per game, scoring, and slugging percentage.  The Redhawks are fourth in the country in batting average.
 
Miami's Jenna Golembiewski leads the club with a .442 batting average and 61 hits.  She's one of two Redhawks with 25 or more home runs on the season.