STORM LAKE, Iowa (May 2, 2021) - The Buena Vista softball team trailed 6-1 entering the seventh inning and got the winning run to the plate with two outs, but the comback bid fell short in the series finale against the University of Dubuque on Sunday afternoon, as the Beavers fell to the Spartans 6-5.

BVU jumped in front 1-0 in the fifth inning when Ashtyn Miller laced a single down the left field line to score Michaela Mason from second base.  Dubuque, who's used its power to help lift them throughout the series, came through with more power in the sixth when Lauren Brown lined a 2-0 pitch over the leftfield fence to give the Spartans their first lead of the contest at 3-1.

A dropped popup with two outs in the top of the seventh would prove costly for the Beavers as it allowed Dubuque (21-12, 10-11 A-R-C) to score one run on the play before a two-run single later in the inning made it a 6-1 contest.

The Beavers tried to chip away at the Dubuque lead in the seventh and mount an impressive comeback.  Nataliah Murrilo and Savanna Pohlmann each doubled home runs to make it 6-3 before senior Carlee Guyett launched her fifth home run of the season over the fence in right to get BVU within a run at 6-5.  Kayden Archibeque kept the inning alive by sending a single into right center and Michaela Mason nearly put the winning run on base but was thrown out at a close play at first base on a soft roller toward second.

All four of BVU's extra-base hits came in the seventh inning as the team tallied eight base knocks overall.  Archibeque was the lone multi-hit player for BVU, going 2-for-4.

Ashtyn Miller suffered a tough loss despite going 6.0 innings and allowing just three runs and three hits while striking out six and walking two.  Peyton Gross took over in the seventh and allowed three unearned runs and three hits.

Buena Vista falls to 15-17 overall (7-13 A-R-C).  The team goes back on the road to begin its final three-game series of the year on Thursday afternoon, May 6, for a doubleheader at Central College (15-10, 13-8 A-R-C).  First pitch of game one is set for 3:00 p.m.