BUIES CREEK, N.C. - After run-ruling the Bryant Bulldogs the day before, the Eastern Kentucky University stayed hot, notching two more wins to its built with victories over UMass Lowell and hosts Campbell.

The Colonels (6-2, 0-0 ASUN) have put up 27 runs in just the three games this weekend while picking up another huge early season with after downing the Camels, who came into the weekend ranked No. 22 in the Mid-Major Top 25 by D1Softball.

GAME ONE - EKU 9, UML 5

Starting off the day for the Colonels in the circle was Victoria Byrum who pitched 3.0 innings before Lauren Narvaez (1-0) finished out the game to pick up the win.

The bats were red hot for the Colonels, getting at least one run across the plate in each of the first four innings. The River Hawks (0-7, 0-0 AE) were first on the board with one run in the first inning, but it only took three batters for the Colonels to muster a response with Kennedy Drafton knocking through a double to center field. EKU took the lead two batters later off of a River Hawk throwing error on a fielder's choice that would have been the third out to go up 2-1.

Staying red hot, the Colonels tacked on four more runs in the second inning. With the bases loaded, Reese Knox drew a walk to bring one run home before Skyler Billips took advantage of a passed ball to steal home a few pitches later. Maddi Rutan followed up with a single to center for another RBI while Lilly Davis brought Knox home off a sacrifice groundout.

The River Hawks tried to respond with a run in the third inning to make it 2-6, but the Colonels quickly fired back to extend the lead back to five with a Makayla Mathis single with a runner on second.

Once more UML tried to close the gap with three more runs in the fourth, but the Colonels responded in once again with two of their own to make it 9-5. Rutan picked up her second RBI of the game with a leadoff solo shot to left field. Mathis similarly picked up her second RBI with another single.

Both sides finally cooled off offensively as the Colonel defense locked down to secure the win.

GAME TWO - EKU 3, CAM 0

The Camels (6-2, 0-0 CAA) came into the game at No. 22 in the D1Softball Mid-Major Top 25 with a 6-1 record and a six-game win streak, but Rutan (2-1) shut Campbell down with an electric performance from the circle.

Pitching another complete game, the two-way threat racked up 10 strikeouts while only allowing two hits and two walks for the Colonel's first shutout of the season.

It was a slower game offensively, but the Colonels capitalized on multiple Camel miscues to put three runs on the board. In the third inning, Jaelin Haynes took advantage of the confusion following a wild ball four pitch at a Drafton at-bat to score all the way from second base.

Drafton created more havoc for the Camel defense in the fifth, laying down a grounder to the Campbell shortstop that crossed right in front of Knox as she started to run from second base, causing a fielding error that allowed Knox to score. The Colonels kept on the pressure in the inning as Jordan Smith eventually drew a bases loaded walk to extend the lead to 3-0.

With a three-run lead, Rutan continued to shut down the Camel offense as she retired nine batters in ten at-bats to ice the game.

UP NEXT

The Colonels will run it back with the River Hawks and the Camels to close out the weekend. Game one of the day against UML is scheduled for 1 p.m. with the second game against Campbell set for 3:30 p.m.