EKU Secures First Power Five Win Since 2014
RICHMOND – April 16, 2024
History! In front of a record crowd, Louisville native Lilly Davis homers and freshman Maddi Rutan throws a complete game as the Eastern Kentucky University softball team defeats Louisville by a score of 6-2 on Tuesday night at Gertrude Hood Field.
A program-record 794 fans flooded into Hood Field to sell out the ballpark for the first time in school history. With the win, EKU (33-5, 14-1 ASUN) completes its first Power Five victory since defeating the Cardinals at home during the 2014 season. EKU has won 23 of its last 24 games and currently ranks No. 64 in the NCAA RPI ranking.
Davis, a two-time state champion with Louisville Male High School, led the Colonels going 2-for-3 from the plate with a 2-run home run and a double off the top of the left-center wall, driving in two runs on the day.
Freshman two-way phenom Maddi Rutan (19-2) earned the win tossing her 12th complete game with three strikeouts. She also went 2-for-3 from the plate just one day after being named the Atlantic Sun Conference Player of the Week.
EKU out-hit Louisville 7-6 and kept the Cardinals away with stellar defense from Adelaide, Australia native Madison Scott, who made two SportsCenter Top 10 worthy plays that left three visitors on base.
Rutan made quick work of Louisville in the top of the first, striking out two in the progress. She ended the day with three total K’s.
EKU scored six runs in the bottom of the second as Davis brought in Rutan with a rocket 2-run home run to deep left field. Makayla Mathissingled and Jasmine Miller was hit by a pitch, forcing Louisville pitcher Brooke Gray out of the contest only pitching one total inning.
The Colonels scored four runs as Scott singled, extending her hit streak to six games, and freshman Reese Knox reached on an error, marking a 6-0 EKU lead.
Rutan retired 15 consecutive batters until the top of the seventh, when Louisville responded with a 2-run shot to dead center, narrowing its gap to 6-2. Rutan forced two flyouts in the Cardinals’ last two at-bats, ending the game 6-2 EKU.
Next Up
EKU returns to action over the weekend batting Bellarmine in Louisville. The Colonels enter the series winners of its last seven ASUN Conference series, four of which were sweeps. Fans can find all three games streamed live on ESPN+.
