DELAND, Fla. – The Eastern Kentucky University softball team claims its sixth straight Atlantic Sun Conference series with two wins over Stetson on Saturday afternoon at Patricia Wilson Field.
 
EKU (28-5, 10-1 ASUN) defeated the Hatters by two close scores of 6-2 and 7-6.  The Colonels have now won 19 of their last 20 games.  EKU's 28-5 overall record is the team's best start to a season in program history.
 
Freshman two-way player Maddi Rutan (15-2) again led the Colonels playing both sides in game one, earning the win in game one and tallying three hits on the day, including a solo home run in game two and the save.
 
Rutan's performance comes days after being named the No. 5 two-way player in NCAA softball by Softball America.
 
In game two, Jeanay Riley and Maggie Pertee recorded multi-hit performances from spots one and two in the Colonels' lineup.
 
Game One | EKU 6, Stetson 2
The Colonels stuck with their typical Friday lineup, Rutan with the starting nod while batting in the four-hole.  
 
In the Stetson home bottom of the first, the Hatters struck first with two hits that brought one run in.  Rutan struck out two SU batters in innings 1-3.
 
EKU evened the score at 1-1 off two singles and four wild pitches in the top of the fourth.  Stetson again re-claimed the lead in the bottom of the inning as Marissa Baxter sent a triple down the right field line.
 
Rutan opened the top of the sixth with a double to left that scored Maggie Pertee, tying the game at two all.  Jasmine Miller reached on an error, bringing Rutan around the bases for a 3-2 Colonel lead.  EKU opened it up as Lilly Davis sent a towering 2-run homer to the left center gap, padding the lead 5-2.
 
EKU scored its last run in the top of the seventh and Rutan sat the Hatter batters down in order to secure the win, 7-2.  The bottom of the second was her second three up, three down half inning.
 
Game Two | EKU 7, Stetson 6
Despite putting up six runs just 30 minutes prior, EKU struggled to get on the board until the third inning, totaling five runs in nine at bats to take a 5-0 lead over Stetson.
 
The Hatters put up three runs to make the score 5-3 in the bottom of the third and fourth, forcing Tayteum Vigansky's day to a close with two strikeouts in 3.1 innings of work.
 
EKU's relief pitcher Victoria Byrum gave up a 3-run homer in the bottom of the sixth to tie the game at six all.
 
The Colonels responded in their next at bat, as Davis brought in a runner off a Hatter error.  Rutan entered in the bottom of the seventh to close, she struck out one and got two others for the save and a 7-6 series win.
 
Next Up
EKU goes for the series sweep over Stetson tomorrow at Noon EST back at Patricia Wilson Field on ESPN+.