RICHMOND, Ky. - The Eastern Kentucky University softball team opened the Colonel Classic on Friday afternoon with a dominant 7-0 victory over the Flames of UIC.
The Colonels (9-5, 0-0 ASUN) snap a two-game losing streak to move to 3-3 in their last six games while the Flames' skid continues.
Maddi Rutan (3-3) got the start in the circle and delivered in a big way, carrying a perfect game through five innings and setting a new season-high in strikeouts with twelve.
Tayteum Vigansky made a relief appearance for the Colonels and continued the pitching dominance with two strikeouts of her own and no hits allowed in 2.0 innings.
The Colonel offense exploded out of the gate, putting up all seven runs in the first two innings with four in the opening frame and three in the second.
Kennedy Drafton got the offense going as a fielder's choice to second base was not in time to home as
Jaelin Haynes put the first run on the board.
Drafton caused more havoc for the Flames' defense on the next batter, as a steal attempt to second baited a pickle and opened the window for
Reese Knox to steal home, with the subsequent throw to home allowing Drafton to safely make it to second.
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Rutan kept the momentum going just a pitch later, blasting a two-run homer down the left field line that stayed just barely fair inside the foul pole.
Continuing her act as the spark plug for the Colonel offense in the second, Drafton followed in Rutan's footsteps with a three-run shot down the left line to bring her up to four RBIs on the day.
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The Colonel offense cooled off, but the defense remained stifling. Rutan did not allow a single baserunner through five innings before the Flames finally managed their first and only hit of the game in the sixth.
Vigansky came to the mound and quickly put a stop to any UIC momentum, downing the next three batters to end the sixth and getting three outs in four hitters in the seventh to secure the game.
UP NEXT
The team continues the Colonel Classic with two games on Saturday. First up is round two with UIC set for 3 PM before taking on the Zips of Akron at 5:30 PM.
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