RICHMOND, Ky. - The Eastern Kentucky University softball team was firing on all cylinders as they secured the series over North Alabama with a 6-0 win on Saturday afternoon.

The Colonels (24-9, 7-1 ASUN) have won all three of their conference series so far and have a 13-1 record at Gertrude Hood Field.

Maddi Rutan (11-6) got her second start of the weekend and exacted revenge on the Lions for her game one loss. The sophomore tossed a complete-game shutout, allowing just five Lion baserunners while striking out seven. Rutan has recorded at least five strikeouts in 16 of her 21 appearances in the circle.

After two scoreless innings, Kennedy Drafton kicked things off for the Colonels with a solo shot to left center field for her sixth home run of the season - already doubling her total from last season.

The offense followed up by loading the bases before Rutan scored from third on a wild pitch. Later in the inning, Sharyn Duncan took advantage of a pinch-hitting opportunity with a hit through the left side that the Lion shortstop could not corral, bringing Jada McLeod home on the error.

The Colonel offense kept clicking in the fifth inning, putting up two runs to stretch the lead to 5-0. It was the first game in the series where either team scored more than two runs individually and more than three runs combined.

Reese Knox collected an RBI with a sac groundout to shortstop that scored Makayla Mathis. Taci Haase tried to stretch for third on the play off the throw to first, reaching the base and picking up a free pass to home plate as the throw from the first baseman went errant and into the Lion dugout.

Mathis put the bow on the game in the bottom of the sixth, tacking on one more insurance run to make the score 6-0. The left fielder picked up her third RBI of the weekend on a single to center, recording an RBI in all three games of the series.

The Lions attempted a final inning push, putting some pressure on the Colonels with runners at first and second with two outs, but Rutan got the next Lion batter swinging to pick up her seventh strikeout and secure the win.

UP NEXT

The Colonels prepare for a midweek rivalry game with a doubleheader against regional and former OVC foe Morehead State on April 2. Afterward, the Colonels stay on the road for their second ASUN series against Central Arkansas on April 5 and 6.