RICHMOND, Ky. - A battle between two of the top pitching staffs in the ASUN delivered and then some as the Eastern Kentucky University softball team split the series opening doubleheader against the North Alabama Lions, 1-2 and 2-1.
The Colonels (23-9, 6-1 ASUN) have recorded 43 scoreless innings out of 47 played against conference opponents so far this season and have scored a run in nine of their last ten games.
GAME ONE - EKU 1, UNA 2
Maddi Rutan (10-6) pitched a complete game and racked up 12 strikeouts but ended up with the loss after a fierce pitching duel between the two teams. The two-way sophomore has now tallied double-digit strikeouts in five appearances this season.
It was a defensive battle through and through, with the lone Colonel run coming in the fifth inning off a sac fly from
Makayla Mathis.
The Colonels held a 1-0 lead into the final frame, but the Lions finally managed a breakthrough, bringing two runs across home plate to inch into the lead.
A response could not be mustered by the Colonels in the final half inning as the Lions handed EKU their first conference loss of the season.
GAME TWO - EKU 2, UNA 1
Victoria Byrum (8-1) was first in the circle for EKU in a game that played out eerily similar to the first game of the day, pitching 5.1 innings and allowing no runs on just four hits.
Lauren Narvaez made a relief appearance and secured the Colonel win for her second save of the season.
Scoring was hard to come by again for both squads in a tightly contested defensive battle. The Colonels were first on the board once again in a moment of deja vu as Mathis picked up her second RBI of the day in the fifth inning with a single to left field.
The Colonel defense stood stout all game, highlighted by top ten-worthy plays by
Jaelin Haynes in center field and
Jada McLeod at third base.
The game threatened to play out as a repeat of game one before Rutan crushed a solo shot to left center to lead off the sixth inning. The dinger was Rutan's eighth this season, tying her previous season-high.
More late inning drama played out as the Colonels entered the final inning with a 2-0 lead. The Lions struck one back as they opened the inning with a solo home run of the their own, but the Colonel defense tightened up and closed out the game for the win.
UP NEXT
The teams conclude the series tomorrow, with the rubber match set for noon ET. The game will be available for streaming on ESPN+ with live stats available as well.
