OXFORD, Ala. – The No. 1 seed Eastern Kentucky University softball team caps its 2024 Atlantic Sun Conference Championship bid with a 6-2 loss to No. 2 seed North Florida in the semifinals on Saturday afternoon at Choccolocco Park.
 
With the loss, EKU (42-10, 21-3 ASUN) awaits its fate in the NCAA Softball Selection Show on Sunday evening on NCAA.com.  
 
As of Saturday night, the Colonels are 57th in the latest RPI ranking with a 9-5 record over schools in the top 100 in the country.  EKU would need to receive an at-large bid in the field as FGCU claims the ASUN's automatic qualifier.
 
ASUN Player of the Year Jeanay Riley led the Colonels going 2-for-4 on the day with a double and triple, scoring both of EKU's runs on the day.  The Louisville, Kentucky native ends her tournament going 10-for-15 (.667) with nine runs, four doubles, two triples, and 2 runs batted in.
 
EKU's Maddi Rutan (25-5) suffered the loss going 4.1 innings allowing six hits and three earned runs.  She totaled 12 strikeouts in four games at the tournament and tied the program record for wins (25) going 2-2 over three days.
 
Both players earned ASUN All-Tournament honors.