STORM LAKE, Iowa (April 27, 2021) - It was a pair of pitcher's duels for the Buena Vista softball team on Tuesday night against Nebraska Wesleyan with the Beavers scoring a pair of late runs in the opener to squeak out a 2-0 victory and were one out away from the sweep before the Prairie Wolves scored a run in the seventh to tie it and then plated another in the ninth to win 2-1.

The two teams combined for just eight hits in game one with three of those coming in the bottom of the sixth inning to help aid BVU.  Rylee Cain got the rally going with a leadoff single on the first pitch of the inning followed by a single from Mckynze Hansen that pushed pinch runner Olivia Larsen to second.  Alyssa Barnhart then laid down a perfect bunt out in front of the plate as the throw just beat her to the bag at first but Larsen never slowed down and came all the way around from second to score on the play to break the scoreless game.  Nicole Griggs then doubled home, Jamie Wendt, who was running for Hansen, to make it a 2-run cushion.

Junior Ashtyn Miller (8-6) got all the run support she needed as she came out in the seventh and retired NWU in order for her ninth complete game of the season.  She allowed just three hits and struck out five while walking only one.

Griggs had the game's only extra-base hit as BVU had five hits overall.

Junior Peyton Gross took a no-hitter into the sixth inning of game two while BVU had just four hits through the first five frames.  Neither team scored until the sixth when Kayden Archibeque sent the 12th pitch of the at-bat to the gap in right center field for her second triple of the season.  She later scored on a fielding error by the third baseman.

Gross and the Beavers were one out away from the sweep but a fielding error with two outs allowed a runner to reach first base.  After a walk put runners at first and second, a throwing error trying to get the final out at first went just wide of the base and allowed the tying run to score from second.

The Beavers threatened to end the game in the bottom half of the inning, getting the winning run to second with no outs but Wendt lined a ball right at the first baseman who tossed over to second to double off Larsen, who had come in to pinch run.  A pop-up then ended the inning.

Both teams had a runner in scoring position in the eighth inning but couldn't score, and then the Prairie Wolves came through with a 2-out single down the right field line that scored a runner from third for the go-ahead run.

Michaela Mason finished 2-for-4 in the game for the Beavers and was the team's only multi-hit player in the contest.  

Gross threw the complete-game for BVU in a losing effort, allowing a pair of unearned runs and just four hits while striking out four and walking five.

Buena Vista is now 15-14 overall (7-10 A-R-C) and will have another big series coming up this weekend as it hosts the University of Dubuque (18-11, 7-10 A-R-C) starting with a doubleheader on Friday afternoon at 3:00 p.m.  The final game of the series will take place on Sunday afternoon starting at 1:00 p.m.