RICHMOND, Ky. – The Eastern Kentucky University softball team improved to 15-14 overall and 4-1 in ASUN Conference play after sweeping Bellarmine in a doubleheader on Saturday.
 
The Colonels opened the day with a 2-1 victory, highlighted by Kennedy Drafton's home run in the bottom of the third inning. In the circle, Tayteum Vigansky (5-2) entered in relief in the fourth and sealed the win, allowing only two hits the rest of the way.
 
EKU closed out the day with an 8-0 run-rule victory behind a dominant performance from Victoria Byrum (4-7). Byrum tossed a six-inning no-hitter, striking out 10 batters to tie her career high on 93 pitches.
 
Offensively, the Colonels scored eight runs with six different players recording RBIs. EKU totaled five doubles and a triple in the victory.
 
GAME ONE – EKU 2, BELLARMINE 1
 
It was a defensive battle through the first two innings, as EKU put runners in scoring position twice with a pair of doubles but stranded three.
 
Drafton broke through in the bottom of the third, sending a 3-1 pitch over the fence to give the Colonels a 1-0 lead.
 
Bellarmine answered in the top of the fourth with an RBI double to right field to tie the game. After another double by the Knights, Vigansky entered in relief and worked out of the jam, stranding two runners to end the inning.
 
In the bottom half, Jada McLeod doubled to right field and later came around to score on a groundout, providing the game-winning run.
 
EKU's defense took control from there, allowing just two singles the rest of the way to secure the 2-1 victory.
 
GAME TWO – EKU 8, BELLARMINE 0 (6 INNINGS)
 
After 2 and a half scoreless innings, Drafton doubled to left-center to spark the offense. Lilly Davis followed with an RBI double to right field, giving EKU a 1-0 lead.
 
In the fourth inning, Jaelin Haynes doubled to left field before Jordan Smith tripled down the right field line to score Haynes and make it 2-0.
 
The Colonels broke the game open with a three-run fifth inning. Davis singled to start the rally, and Kaitlyn Wallis entered as a pinch runner. McLeod followed with a single, and Haynes drove in a run with a single to shallow left.
 
After a walk by Claire Schreiner loaded the bases, Bellarmine made a pitching change. EKU capitalized, as Vanessa Keller was hit by a pitch, and a wild pitch brought in two more runs to extend the lead to 5-0.
 
In the sixth, Reese Knox walked and advanced to third on a stolen base and a wild pitch. Makayla Mathis walked and stole second, and Davis drew another walk to load the bases.
 
McLeod drove in Knox with a single before Schreiner delivered the final blow with a two-RBI double to right-center, bringing home Riley Oleksik and McLeod to secure the 8-0 run-rule victory.
 
Byrum was dominant in the circle, tossing a no-hitter over six innings while allowing just one walk. Bellarmine reached base only four times, all due to EKU errors.
 
NEXT UP
 
EKU closes out the series against Bellarmine on Sunday at 1 p.m. ET, looking to complete the sweep.