PELLA, Iowa (May 6, 2021) - Central College used one big inning in each contest of Thursday's doubleheader and that was enough to take a pair of games from the Buena Vista University softball team by scores of 9-5 and 4-1 to begin the three-game series.

In the opener, the Dutch broke a scoreless game by plating six unearned runs in the fifth inning.  Michaela Mason and Ashtyn Miller hit back-to-back home runs in the sixth inning to get BVU back within 6-2 but the Dutch got those runs back with a pair of sacrifice flies and an RBI single in the bottom half.  The Beavers rallied with three runs in the seventh but it wasn't enough.  

Mason finished with a pair of hits as did Jamie Wendt.  The two long balls were the only extra base hits for the team which finished with six hits total.

Peyton Gross made the start and suffered the loss.  She went the distance and allowed just three earned runs, striking out seven and walking six.

The Dutch took advantage of three Beaver miscues in the finale which led to three of the four runs.  They got one across in the first before adding three more in the third. Mckynze Hansen drove in BVU's lone run with a single in the sixth.  She finished with two his as did freshman Rylee Cain.

Ashtyn Miller made the start and went all six innings, scattering five hits and was charged with only one earned run.

Buena Vista drops to 15-19 overall (7-15 A-R-C) and returns to the diamond on Friday afternoon to host Nebraska Wesleyan for the final game of that three-game series.  First pitch is set for 4:00 p.m.