ATLANTA, Ga. - The Eastern Kentucky University softball team did not miss a step from where they left off in 2024 as they opened the season with wins over in-state rival Western Kentucky and ACC foe Georgia Tech.
The Colonels (2-0, 0-0 ASUN) win their first two games on the season for the second season in a row as well as their second-straight win over an ACC opponent after they defeated Louisville last season.
GAME ONE - EKU 5, WKU 1
ASUN Preseason Pitcher of the Year
Maddi Rutan (1-0) got the first start of the year for the Colonels in the circle and started hot.
Giving up just four hits in a complete game appearance, Rutan racked up five strikeouts on only walk and one earned run en route to her first win of the season.
The scoring only came in one inning for the Colonels, but it was all they needed to down their western rival. Preseason All-ASUNÂ outfielder
Jaelin Haynes grabbed the first RBIs of the year for the Colonels in the second inning. A single up the middle in a bases loaded situation turned into a double and two RBIs off a throwing error from the Hilltopper center fielder as
Makayla Mathis and
Sharyn Duncan made their way to home plate.
With two runners remaining on base,
Kennedy Drafton reminded everyone why she earned ASUN All-Freshman honors last season, immediately following up Haynes' double with a three-run shot over the right field fence to stretch the lead to 5-0.
The Hilltoppers managed a single run in the bottom of the sixth with two outs, but the Colonels tightened right back up and put the game to bed with four straight putouts.
GAME TWO - EKU 6, GT 3
Lauren Narvaez was first in the circle to start off game two of the day for EKU, but
Victoria Byrum (1-0) picked up the win with 6.0 innings pitched in a complete team performance.
The Yellow Jackets were first on the board, jumping out to an early 2-0 lead in the bottom of the second with bases loaded, but Byrum managed to get the situation under control and get the Colonels out of the jam.
It would not take long for a Colonel response as the top of the fourth saw four runs cross the plate for EKU to grab a 4-2 lead. Rutan picked up her first RBI of the year with a single up the middle while Duncan followed up with a single of her own to load the bases. A hard-fought at-bat from freshman
Skyler Billips that saw her down 0-2 early in the count ended in a walk to tie the game.
With the bases still loaded and zero outs, a fielder's choice groundout RBI by
Jordan Smith and a sacrifice fly by Mathis brought two more runners home to give the Colonels a 4-2 lead. The Yellow Jackets threatened to claw a run back in the bottom of the inning, but a heroic double play effort from Drafton at second base kept the Colonel lead at two.
The Colonels tacked on two more runs in the fifth inning give themselves more breathing room. Taking advantage of three-straight walks, Rutan tallied her second RBI of the game off a fielder's choice to second that brought Drafton home. Two batters later, a single up the middle from Billips gave her her second RBI as well as Rutan crossed home plate.
Georgia Tech attempted a last minute surge in the seventh inning with two outs on the board. A double to right center following a walk made the score 6-3 with a runner in scoring position, but the Colonel defense came through as Mathis made the catch on a fly ball to left field to secure the win.
UP NEXT
The Colonels take on day two of the Buzz Classic as they meet Belmont and a second game against Georgia Tech. First pitch against Belmont is set for 1:30 p.m. while round two with the Yellow Jackets is slated for 6:30 p.m.
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