STORM LAKE, Iowa (March 25, 2021) - The Buena Vista University softball team played its first home games this afternoon since late April of 2019, and the Beavers made it worth the wait by taking a doubleheader sweep of visiting Loras College by scores of 4-3 and 8-6.

BVU jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first inning of game one and maintained that lead until the Duhawks pulled even in the fifth with three runs of their own, including a two-run home run to put them on the board.  It remained tied until the seventh when the Beavers loaded the bases with one out before sophomore Olivia Larsen raced home from third on a wild pitch to score the game-winning run.

Rylee Cain and Kayden Archibeque each had two hits in the contest, including an RBI double from Cain in the opening frame.  Junior Ashtyn Miller went the distance inside the circle for BVU, allowing seven hits and three earned runs while striking out five and walking two.

BVU again used a fast start in the nightcap, scoring three times in the first and four more times in the second for a 7-0 lead.  Senior Carlee Guyett got the parade started with a leadoff home run to left.  She finished the game with three hits and a pair of RBI.

Michaela Mason doubled home a run for the first run of the second inning before Cain lifted a ball into left field that was dropped by the left fielder and scored two unearned runs.  Jamie Wendt put BVU in front by seven with her RBI double to deep to straight away centerfield.

Loras (0-9, 0-5 A-R-C), began chipping away at the Beaver lead by pushing across a run in both the third and fifth innings. Guyett's RBI single in the fifth extended the margin back to 8-2.  The Duhawks wouldn't go away as they chalked up three runs in the sixth inning, including a two-run double, and got within 8-5.  Loras then threatened again in the seventh by loading the bases with no outs before junior Peyton Gross, who started the game and went the first four innings, came on in relief of Carrie Dose.  After issuing a bases loaded walk, Gross then recorded her seventh strikeout, got an infield fly and fielded a comebacker to preserve the win.

Mason, as well as Savanna Pohlmann, chipped in with two hits for BVU as the Beavers outhit the Duhawks in the contest, 12-7.

Gross was charged with four runs and four hits over five total innings while striking out seven to improve her seaon record to 3-3.  Dose worked two innings of relief and surrendered a pair of unearned runs and three hits.

Buena Vista improves its record to 10-7 overall (2-3 A-R-C) and will look to complete the three-game series sweep when the two teams meet back up on Saturday afternoon for a 1:00 p.m. first pitch.