JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Champions!  For the first time as a member of the Atlantic Sun Conference and the first time since 2018, the Eastern Kentucky University softball program clinches the 2024 ASUN Regular Season Softball Championship on Sunday afternoon at UNF Softball Complex.
 
Despite the 4-1 loss on Sunday to drop the series, EKU (37-8, 18-3 ASUN) secured at least a share of the regular season championship in just its third season as a member institution of the league.  With just one win next weekend in the Lipscomb series at home, EKU would be outright regular season champions for the fourth time in program history.
 
EKU's 2024 ASUN Regular Season Championship is the fourth in program history (2002, 2004, 2018, 2024) and second in the last six seasons, all have come under head softball coach Jane Worthington, who recorded her 900th career win last weekend at Bellarmine.
 
With one win next weekend, EKU would lock up the No. 1 seed in the ASUN Conference Softball Championship from May 7-11 at Choccolocco Park in Oxford, Ala.  
 
On Sunday, EKU suffered its first conference series loss since 2023, snapping the Colonels' conference series win streak at eight.
 
The Colonels were led by multi-hit performances from outfielder Makayla Mathis and infielder Jasmine Miller, both going 2-for-3 on the day.
 
Freshman pitcher Maddi Rutan (22-4) suffered her second straight loss going 4.2 innings with one strikeout and five hits allowed.
 
EKU could not get its offense going until the top of the sixth as Miller singled through the left side, bringing in Jaelin Haynes.
 
North Florida's Allison Benning entered in the top of the seventh and struck out two Colonel batters to earn her second save of the season.  She also homered in the fifth inning, accounting for half of her team's runs on Sunday.
 
Next Up
EKU returns to action on Tuesday with a doubleheader at in-state rival Morehead State. The games are currently scheduled to be aired live on ESPN+, fans making the trip can find tickets for just $6 online here.