Softball | 3/25/2021 9:09:00 AM

STORM LAKE, Iowa (March 25, 2021) - The Buena Vista University softball team has been waiting for two years to play a game on its own diamond, and after the long wait, the Beavers are set to do just that this afternoon when they welcome Loras College to town for an American Rivers Conference doubleheader and the start of a three-game series.

THE MATCH-UP
Thursday, March 25
Loras (0-7, 0-3 A-R-C) at Buena Vista (8-7, 0-3 A-R-C)  (DH)  |  2:00 p.m.  |  Live Video  |  Live Stats
Storm Lake, Iowa |  BVU/SL HS SB Field

Saturday, March 27
Loras (0-7, 0-3 A-R-C) at Buena Vista (8-7, 0-3 A-R-C)  (DH)  |  2:00 p.m.  |  Live Video  |  Live Stats
Storm Lake, Iowa |  BVU/SL HS SB Field

LAST TIME OUT
The Beavers were swept at Simpson College last weekend to begin their A-R-C schedule.  BVU fell to the storm 7-3 and 7-1 in Saturday's doubleheader and again 6-2 on Sunday in the finale.  BVU entered the series hitting around .350 as a team, but were held to just a .158 average over these three contests.  Michaela Mason (3-for-6) led the team in hits for the weekend and was the only player to hit over .250.  Kayden Archibeque had the team's lone extra-base hit while Carlee Guyett had the team's only two RBI.  The team struggled a bit with control on the mound, walking 16 batters over the three games while striking out only 14.  The Storm hit .338 for the series as BVU was out-hit 26-12.

SCOUTING LORAS
The Duhawks enter the series still in search of their first win of the season.  The team is hitting .241 overall and averaging just over 3.0 runs per contest.  With 44 innings pitched, the pitching staff has surrendered 54 total runs and has the highest ERA (6.63) in the league.  Taylor Donnell and Grace Houghton each have a team-high eight hits with Donnell leading the way with a .400 average.  Abigail Bergholz is second with seven hits but has posted a team-leading five RBI and has scored four times.  Donnell also leads the charge with four doubles while the team has 13 total extra-base hits overall.  The team has struck out 39 total times compared to nine walks.  Inside the circle, Donnell has started a team-leading four games and is 0-5 with a 5.10 ERA and three complete games.  She's pitched 34.1 total innings and has allowed 43 hits and 36 runs (25 earned).  Loras was 6-6 a season ago before the pandemic to effect.  The Duhawks were picked ninth in this year's A-R-C Preseason Coaches Poll.  It returns five starting position players this season, with Donnell the lone returning pitcher.

BVU NOTES
-- Ashtyn Miller was named the A-R-C Softball Position Player of the Week on March 15
-- BVU ranks fifth overall in the A-R-C in team batting average (.313)
-- The team has five players with at least 10 hits
-- Senior Carlee Guyett and junior Ashtyn Miller are each tied for third in the league with 19 hits
-- Guyett is tied for the league lead with seven doubles and sits 14th in DIII
-- Miller is third in the A-R-C in RBI (17) and ranks 20th in all of DIII
-- BVU is second in the A-R-C with 37 stolen bases
-- BVU is fourth overall in the A-R-C with a 3.02 team ERA.
-- Miller is tied with all pitchers in the conference with 39 strikeouts on the mound
--  The Beavers have not dropped more than three straight games all season

ON DECK:  The Beavers head to Coe College next Friday and Saturday for a three-game series.  Friday's doubleheader is scheduled for a 2:00 p.m. first pitch.