SIOUX CENTER, Iowa (February 10, 2023) - The Buena Vista softball team kicked off the 2023 campaign on Friday afternoon with a matchup against 11th ranked Grand View University followed by a game against Dakota Wesleyan. Both games were inside of the ASB Sports Complex.

Grand View got off to a quick start with an RBI double and a two-run single to give the Vikings a 3-0 lead in the first inning. Nikki Griggs would respond for the Beavers with an RBI knock in the fourth inning to make it a 3-1 game. The score would hold at 3-1 until the 6th inning when the Vikings added an insurance run on a Beavers error. BVU looked to rally in the final innings, getting the tying run on deck. The rally attempt would fall short with the Vikings prevailing with a 4-1 victory. 

Griggs was 1-for-3 with the lone RBI and was one of four different players on the team to turn in one hit. Kennedi Claycomb settled down after allowing three runs in the first. She finished by allowing just three earned runs on seven hits, walking four while striking out two across six innings of work. 

Lani Gannon earned the win for the Vikings. Gannon allowed one run on four hits, one walk while striking out five across four innings of work. Courtney Kopischke came in relief, throwing three hitless innings to close out the win.

Junior Nattie Murillo, who connected for six home runs a year ago, drilled a three-run blast in the bottom of the first inning that tied things up at 3-3. An RBI single in the second put DWU back in front at 4-3 and they extended the lead to 7-3 with three more runs in the fourth. The Beavers hung around as Maddie Elwood drew a bases loaded walk in the fifth and the team added another in the sixth to make it 7-5. A two-run double in the top of the seventh pushed the margin to 9-5 and BVU threatened again in the home half, getting an RBI from Griggs to make it 9-6, and the tying run getting to the plate by a line-out to second would end the game.

Murillo was 3-for-4 with a double and home run while driving in four. Elwood and Griggs also chalked up doubles as BVU tallied 11 hits overall. Emma LaFave got her first career start inside the circle and pitched 4.1 innings, allowing six earned runs with one walk and one strike out. Keirsten Trayte went the final 2.2 innings and was charged with three runs.

Up Next: BVU (0-2) will resume play at 2 p.m. on Saturday with games against Mount Mercy University (2 p.m.) and Dordt University (4 p.m.).