ST. PAUL, Minn. (March 19, 2022) - The Buena Vista University softball team pushed its overall win streak to five while beginning its weekend trip with a doubleheader sweep at the University of Northwestern-St. Paul on Saturday afternoon by scores of 11-3 and 6-4.

In the opener, BVU got RBI doubles in the first inning from Chloe Wells and Ashtyn Miller to jump out to the early 2-0 lead.  The Eagles got one of those runs back in the home half but that would end up being as close as they'd be the rest of the way.  Wells, who had a monster game at the plate, added a solo home run to start a four-run third inning before a two-run double highlighted a five-run seventh inning.  Northwestern-St. Paul got its final two runs in the seventh.

Wells finished the contest going 4-for-5 with a pair of doubles, four RBI and two runs scored.  Carlee Guyett also added four hits, including a double while driving in one and scoring twice.  Seven of the team's 14 hits in the game went for extra-bases as they out-hit the Eagles, 14-7.  Peyton Gross was tough inside the circle, improving to 6-2 overall after allowing just one run and six hits over six innings.  She struck out seven and walked only one.

Things were much tighter in the nightcap with BVU needing to rally with three runs in the seventh inning to regain the lead and holding off a big threat in the bottom half by the Eagles.  Nattie Murillo got things started offensively for the Beavers with a solo home run in the second inning to give them a 1-0 lead.  The Eagles came right back with three a three-run third inning to take their first lead of the day at 3-1.  The advantage was short-lived, however, with BVU continuing to show its power with another solo shot by Murillo coupled by one from Miller to tie the game at 3-3 in the fourth.

Northwestern-St. Paul went back in front at 4-3 in the sixth off an RBI single which set up the thrilling ending.  The Beavers took advantage of a costly defensive miscue by the Eagles which scored the first one before Wells put BVU in front at 5-4 with an RBI sac bunt followed by an RBI single from Miller to push across a big insurance run.  The Eagles, however, threatened in the bottom half of the seventh with runners at second and third and just one out but Gross, who had come on in relief to start the inning, got back-to-back strikeouts to end the game.

Murillo went 4-for-4 in the contest with the two home runs ad four RBI while Miller was 3-for-4 with the home run and two runs batted in.  BVU again was in double-digit hits with 13 and was able to overcome five errors, defensively.  Kennedi Claycomb picked up the win and is now 4-1 on the year.  She pitched six innings, allowed four unearned runs and seven hits while striking out four and walking three.  Gross worked the final inning and worked around a pair of singles with three strikeouts en route to her second save.

Buena Vista is now 15-5 overall and plays at Saint Benedict (11-1) in a doubleheader set for 1:00 p.m.