RICHMOND, Ky. - The Eastern Kentucky University softball team is back on the road as they kick off an eight-game road stint with a doubleheader against former OVC foe and regional rival Morehead State.

The Colonels (24-9, 7-1 ASUN) come into the Wednesday game off a series win over North Alabama, taking two of the three.

The last meeting between these two teams came with another doubleheader in 2023, with the Colonels taking both halves, 5-4 and 8-0. The Colonels lead the longstanding series at 56-26.

The two-game stretch is set for Wednesday, April 2, with the first pitch of game one scheduled for 1 PM. Game two is set to follow at 3:30 PM.

Both games on the day will be broadcast on ESPN+ with live stats available on StatBroadcast.

SCOUTING THE EAGLES

Morehead State brings a 4-29 overall record into the day with a 2-10 mark in OVC play. Last time out, the Eagles were swept in their weekend series against Tennessee State, 8-0, 8-0, and 12-2. However, MSU did pick up a win in their midweek game against ASUN foe Bellarmine, 9-7.

Rylie Burney and Emma Solis are the only two Eagles pitchers who meet the minimum appearance requirements for eligible stats. Burney leads the squad with 28 appearances and 19 starts, carrying an ERA of 6.21 and a record of 2-15 while striking out 30 batters. Solis comes in at a 2-10 record with 19 appearances and 12 starts, recording an ERA of 8.38 and leading the team in strikeouts with 33.

Kendra Lewis is the leading batter for MSU, topping the stats for the Eagles in batting average, OPS, slugging percentage and on-base percentage, as well as home runs and total bases. Sela Pickford leads the squad in RBIs with 17 and ties Lewis in home runs with two. Maddy Christopher is the only other Eagle batter recording an average higher than .300 at .337, totaling 6 RBIs and an on-base percentage of .355.

LAST TIME OUT

The Colonels dropped their first game of the season in conference play and at Gertrude Hood Field but still picked up the series win against North Alabama. 

Maddi Rutan (11-6) pitched two complete games, picking up a shutout in the third game of the series. She totaled 19 strikeouts on the weekend, including 12 in the game one loss to the Lions.

Victoria Byrum (8-1) tallied her eighth win of the season with the start in the 2-1 game two victory. The sophomore allowed just four hits and zero runs in 5.1 innings pitched. Lauren Narvaez made an appearance in relief, finishing out the final 1.2 innings and collecting her second save of the season.

Makayla Mathis was the only Colonel to record an RBI in all three games of the series. Mathis put up the Colonels' only run in game one as well as the go-ahead run in game two. She also posted the final RBI in the team's 6-0 win in game three.