CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (May 14, 2021) - The Buena Vista softball team saw its run in the American Rivers Conference Tournament come to a heartbreaking end on Friday afternoon as the Beavers came up short in the pod championship round by scores of 2-0 and 3-2 against No. 4 seed Luther.

The opener was a pitcher's duel the entire way with the Norse scratching across both runs in the third inning on a 2-run double which was the game's only extra-base hit.  Buena Vista was able to put a runner on base in five of the seven innings but only had one runner reach second base.

Both pitchers went the distance and combined to allow only nine hits.  Junior Peyton Gross scattered just four hits and struck out two despite walking six.

Since the loss was BVU's first during the double-elimination bracket, the two teams had to turn right around and play a winner-take-all game to decide who was going to advance onto Saturday's championship series.

Senior Carlee Guyett connected on her team-leading seventh home run in the first inning to put the Beavers in front 1-0 before Luther grabbed the lead at 2-1 in the third with a two-run home.  BVU loaded the bases in the sixth with just one out but saw the inning come to an end when Ashtyn Miller flew out to center and Savanna Pohlmann was thrown out at home trying to score.  The Norse then pushed across an insurance run on a sacrifice fly in the bottom half to extend their lead to 3-1.

BVU rallied in the seventh as it looked to keep its season alive.  Rylee Cain reached on a fielding error to begin the inning with Olivia Larsen coming on to pinch run.  Larsen later stole second and then third before Carrie Dose walked to put runners at the corners with only one out.  The Beavers got within run on a double steal that scored Larsen from third but the Norse were able to strand the tying run at second with a ground out to end the game.

Guyett also doubled to go along with her home run, giving her 14 on the year which is second-most all time and only trailing her 17 two-baggers that she posted as a freshman in 2018.  BVU was held to only three hits in the game while the Norse scattered eight.

Senior Michaela Mason, one of three seniors who played their final career game, broke the program's all-time career record for games played (153) and games started (152).

Miller went the distance inside the circle, allowing three runs and eight hits while striking out four and walking three.

Buena Vista wraps up its season at 19-22 overall, and aside from Mason, the game marked the final career contest for Mckynze Hansen and Kayden Archibeque.