STORM LAKE, Iowa (April 17, 2021) - Freshman Rylee Caiin blasted a 3-run home run for her first career long ball during a five-run third inning to help lift the Buena Vista University softball team to a thrilling 5-4 victory over No. 14 Wartburg College on Saturday afternoon. The Knights did come back and earn the split by hanging on for a 15-11 win in the nightcap.
BVU playd small ball in the third to break a scoreless ball game. After
Alyssa Barnhart drilled a 1-2 pitch to the gap in right field, both
Savanna Pohlmann and
Carlee Guyett followed up with bunt singles to load the bases.
Kayden Archibeque then drove home the first run on a squeeze bunt.
Michaela Mason drove home a run on a fielder's choice before Cain launched a 1-2 pitch over the fence in left to cap the five-run frame with two outs.
Wartburg then rallied back in the sixth with four runs of its own, including a 2-out three-run home run to cap its scoring. Junior
Ashtyn Miller then got a strikeout to end any further threat before retiring the side in order for her seventh complete-game of the year. She allowed just four hits in the contest while posting her second double-digit strikeout game of the year by sitting down 10.
Nicole Griggs also doubled in the contest for the Beavers, as three of the team's five hits in the game went for extra-bases. The five runs scored were the most against Wartburg starter Ashley Nelson, who dropped to 6-1 on the year and entered the game with a 1.40 ERA.
The Knights (20-6, 11-5 A-R-C) took advantage of three first inning walks by BVU starter
Peyton Gross, highlighted by a grand slam that landed just inside the left field foul pole, as the built an early 5-0 lead. BVU did chip away at that lead with a three runs of its own in the bottom half, chasing Wartburg starter Lauren Reicks after only three batters.
Wartburg made it 6-3 in the third before adding two more in the fourth for an 8-2 cushion. The Knights then extended the margin to 15-5 after scoring six times in the top half of the seventh before the Beavers made things interesting in the home half. Mason got the rally started by belting her 13th career home run with one out. Miler then singled before Cain doubled to right to put runners at second and third. Mckynze Hansen lined a ball back up the middle but was called out for being out of the batter's box for the second out.
Nataliah Murillo then doubled on the next pitch to the gap in right center to score both Miller and Cain and then came around to score one batter later on Barnhart's double down the right field line to make it 15-10. Pohlmann followed with a double of her own to left center to score Barnhart and get the Beavers within four before Guyett grounded out to first to end the game.
BVU outhit the Knights, 12-10, in the contest but were plagued by eight walks and four errors. Mason finished 2-for-3 with a pair of RBI and two runs scored while Murillo also finished with a pair of doubles and a run scored.
Gross pitched the first four innings and was charged with eight runs on five hits while walking six and striking out three.
Kennedi Claycomb worked the final three innings and scattered five hits while allowing seven runs (four earned).
Buena Vista is now 14-12 overall (6-8 A-R-C) and will look to win the series on Sunday afternoon when the two teams face-off in the series finale beginning at 12:00 p.m.
