RICHMOND, Ky. - The Eastern Kentucky University softball team put up a fight but could not keep up as the University of Kentucky Wildcats pulled away in the final innings to down the Colonels, 1-5.

The Colonels (32-13, 13-4 ASUN) fall for just the third time on the season at Gertrude Hood Field, now standing at 15-3 on home grass.

Maddi Rutan (15-8) and Victoria Byrum made appearances in the circle for the Colonels with Rutan getting the start. Rutan tallied seven strikeouts on 5.0 innings pitched for the night while Byrum grabbed one in 2.0 innings, conceded three and two earned runs, respectively.

Both starting pitchers totaled four scoreless innings with Rutan carrying a no-hitter into the fifth before the Wildcats broke the stalemate. Kentucky took advantage of a number of walks and tough defensive plays the Colonels could not convert to plate three runs in the top of the frame.

The Colonels look poised to mount an equal response in the bottom of the fifth, loading the bases with just one out. A good eye from Kennedy Drafton brought home the lone EKU run with a walk on four-straight balls, but the Colonels could not cut into the deficit any further.

Baserunners and hits were not an issue for EKU, nearly matching UK at five hits to seven, but eight runners left on base proved too many for the Colonels.

The Wildcats tacked on an insurance run apiece in the sixth and seventh inning. The Colonels could not muster a response and fell to the Wildcats, 1-5.

UP NEXT

The Colonels hit the road for their final away series of the season, taking on the North Alabama Lions. The series opens with a doubleheader on Saturday at 1 PM and 3:30 PM ET before wrapping up on Sunday at 1 PM. The squad has a chance to clinch the ASUN Gold Division if they receive some help, as a sweep by EKU and a series loss by Austin Peay would put the Colonels out of reach.