The Buena Vista softball team used a big first inning in game one to cruise to an 8-1 victory over Wartburg College before using a late-game rally in the nightcap to edge the Knights, 3-1.

The Beavers looked to carry their momentum for Wednesday's doubleheader against #11 Central into Friday's match-up against Wartburg, and they came out ready to play in the opener, scoring seven runs in the first for the second time in three games and take a 7-0 lead.

Senior Sam Engleman had a big day at the plate for BVU and got BVU on the board early with a grandslam - her fifth home run of the year.  Stephanie Hayden, who had a big day with the bat against the Dutch, continued her torrid week with a two-run single to push the advantage to seven.

The Knights got their only run of the game in the fourth before Engleman drove in her fifth run of the game in the sixth to push the lead to 8-1.

Jenna Falline, who picked up her ninth win of the year kept Wartburg off the bases over the final two frames to secure the win.

Wartburg struck first in game two, getting a run in the fourth to take a 1-0 lead, but Falline shut the Knights out the rest of the way.

Engleman then led off the sixth with a double and came around to score when Jessica Stocker singled to make it a 1-1 game.

Mikaela Millslagle got the seventh inning started with a single before Lacey Vokt entered as a pinch runner.  Vokt then stole second and moved to third when Hayden bunted her way on.  With no one covering second, Hayden then moved up a base to put both runners in scoring position.

Vokt was then thrown out at home on a fielder's choice for the first out of the inning, but Jordon Pilcher reaches on a bunt to load the bases to bring up Engleman.  Already with five RBI on the day, she added to that total with a two-run single to center which proved to be the difference in the 3-1 victory.

Falline notches her 10th win of the year and helps BVU get back to .500 on the year.

Complete stats for the games are not currently available at the time of this recap.

Buena Vista improves its season records to 13-13 overall (5-3 IIAC).  The team will look to keep its momentum going when it entertains #9 Coe College next Saturday afternoon in a doubleheader starting at 1:00pm.