RICHMOND, Ky. – The Eastern Kentucky University softball team concludes the 2024 regular season with a 2-1 victory over Lipscomb on Friday afternoon at Gertrude Hood Field.
 
With the win, EKU (40-8, 21-3 ASUN) ends the regular season with 40 wins for the fourth time in program history and 20 wins inside conference play for the third time in program history. 
 
The Colonels will enter the 2024 Atlantic Sun Conference Championship as the Regular Season Champions and No. 1 seed in the field.  EKU will begin play on May 9 at 1:30 p.m. EST against a to-be-determined opponent with a double-bye.
 
Freshman pitcher Victoria Byrum (7-1) led EKU on Friday throwing 4.0 innings in relief tying a career-high five strikeouts to earn the win.
 
The Lakewood, California, native ends the regular season tied for second on the team with seven wins.
 
Offensively, outfielders Jeanay Riley and Jaelin Haynes each went 2-for-3 from the plate, totaling four of EKU's five hits in the ballgame. 
 
EKU scored one run in the first inning off a single from Haynes.  Riley scored the game-winning run in the bottom of the fifth off a single up the middle.
 
Haynes ends her regular season with an ASUN-leading .400 batting average in 110 at-bats.  
 
Riley cements her name in contention for ASUN Player of the Year ending with a .378 average with 62 hits, 14 doubles, three doubles, six home runs, and 40 runs batted in.  She leads the conference in most offensive statistical categories.
 
Next Up
EKU heads to the ASUN Championship for the first time as a member institution in the league as the regular season champions and No. 1 seed.  
 
The Colonels will open play on Thursday, May 9 at 1:30 p.m. EST against a to-be-determined opponent (No. 4, No. 5, or No. 8 seed) earning a double-bye.
 
Fans can purchase tickets to the tournament online here.