PELLA, Iowa (May 9, 2021) - The Buena Vista University softball team will head into this week's American Rivers Conference Tournament with some momentum on its side after taking down Central College, 6-2, on Sunday afternoon in the final game of the three-game series.

Rylee Cain broke a scoreless game in the fourth inning with an RBI single to centerfield to score Ashtyn Miller for her only hit of the contest.  The Dutch tied it at 1-1 in the fifth with a sacrifice fly before the Beavers broke things open with five runs in the sixth to tak a 6-1 lead.  Cain got the scoring started with an RBI fielder's choice before Mckynze Hansen launched a three-run home run to right to make it a 5-1 advantage.  Later in the inning, Michaela Mason drew a bases loaded walk to push across the final run.

Central (18-12, 15-9 A-R-C) was able to scratch across a single run in the sixth on a two-out RBI triple, but never threatened again after that.

Peyton Gross scattered five hits over her five innings of work while allowing just one run and improved to 5-9 on the year.  Ashtyn Miller closed things out by pitching the final two innings, allowing one run and one hit while striking out three.

Hansen finished 2-for-3 at the plate with a double, home run and the three RBI to help lead the way.  Miller registered her 16th double of the year and moves within just one two-bagger of matching Carlee Guyett's single-season record of 17 set back in 2018.  

Buena Vista concludes its regular season at 16-20 overall (8-16 A-R-C).  The team now turns its focus to the A-R-C Tournament where it will face ninth-seed Loras College in the #8 vs. #9 play-in game on Wednesday, May 12, at Cedar Rapids.  Game time on the Coe College campus is set for 3:00 p.m.