The Buena Vista softball team was one out away from a key doubleheader sweep at Nebraska Wesleyan on Tuesday afternoon, but after dropping a heartbreaking 10-9 (9 inning) contest to begin the day, the Beavers did respond with a 7-3 triumph in game two to earn the split.

BVU got a two-run double from Kennedy Colvert in the second inning of the opener followed later in the inning by an RBI single by Carlee Guyett which also scored another run on a fielding error, and the Beavers opened up a 4-0 lead in the second.  The lead later grew to 6-1 before Nebraska Wesleyan came storming back with four runs in the sixth to get within 6-5.

The Beavers couldn't add to their lead over the last two innings, but still stood within an out away from securing a win but a dropped popup allowed the game-tying run to score from third in the seventh.  The contest then went to extras where BVU went back in front 9-6 with three runs in the ninth on a three-run single from Guyett.  The team couldn't hold that lead as the Prairie Wolves plated four runs in the bottom half.  They took advantage of a misplayed ground ball with one out that loaded the bases which was followed by a pair of RBI singles and a fielder's choice to tie the game.  The winning run then crossed on a sacrifce fly to right.

Guyett finished 2-for-4 with four RBI while Colvert doubled twice, drove in three and scored a pair of runs.  Kate Lesmeister continues to swing a hot bat, recording a team-high three hits to go along with a stolen base.  Keely Bycroft also had two hits and scored.

Both teams chalked up 13 hits with the Beaver tallying the only four extra-base hit.  They also combined for nine errrors which led to nine unearned runs.

Marissa Promes suffered the loss in relief for Buena Vista, pitching 2.2 innings, scattering four hits and charged with just two earned runs.  Moriah Guyett got the start and went six innings, allowing nine hits, striking out three and walking three.

Buena Vista broke open a 2-2 tie in game two with a run in the fifth and four more in the sixth.  Lesmeister doubled down the left field line to put BVU back in front at 3-2 in the fifth before a trio of RBI singles in the sixth followed by a run-scoring double by Autumn Boland, made it 7-2.

The Prairie Wolves got one run back in the home half of the sixth, but that was all they could push across, as they fell for just the third time in conference play this season.

Guyett added two more hits, including her 14th double of the year, which ties the program's single-season record set by Marissa Schmidt in 2015.  Savanna Pohlmann went 2-for-4 with a run scored.  Nine different players had a hit as the team finished with 11.  The team has now scored 189 runs on the year which is ranked ninth all-time.

Promes went the distance inside the circle and is now 7-5 on the year.  She allowed seven hits, walked one and struck out one.

The Beavers are 17-11 overall (2-6 IIAC) and are scheduled to host Coe College in a doubleheader on Saturday, April 21, starting at 1:00pm.  They will then travel to Loras College on Sunday, April 22, for a rescheduled doubleheader that starts at 1:00pm.