Written by Josh Garcia
BVU Athletics Communications Student Contributor

MANKATO, Minn. (Feb. 26, 2023) - The Buena Vista softball team finished up its set of games in the Mankato Dome with a pair of matchups against St. Olaf and Hamline University on Sunday. BVU lost the first game 7-6 against St. Olaf before picking up a 2-1 victory against Hamline in game two. 
 
GAME 1 
BVU faced an uphill battle early after falling behind 5-1 through the first four innings against St. Olaf. The Beavers lineup showed some resiliency, scoring 5 runs in the final three innings, but the rough start proved to be too much to overcome.  
Kiersten Trayte was charged with the loss after allowing three runs on five hits and a walk across 1.2 innings. Cyrah Rasmussen pitched the bulk of the innings in relief completing 5.1 innings, allowing four runs on seven hits and four walks while striking out three. The outing marked Rasmussen's first collegiate appearance.  

Rylee Cain led the Beavers offensively recording two hits and four RBIs. Paige Druskis and Alyssa Cathcart each contributed RBI singles.  
 
GAME 2 
The Beavers got on the board first on an RBI single from Nattie Murillo. Hamline would respond in the fifth knotting the game at one apiece. The contest would not stay tied long as Danica Workman hit an RBI single to put the Beavers back ahead in the bottom half of the inning. Workman's RBI knock would prove to be all they needed as Emma LaFave, who entered in relief to start the fifth, would pitch three scoreless innings en route to her first career victory.

Claycomb worked the first four innings and departed with BVU in front, 1-0. She allowed just three hits and chalked up three strikeouts. LaFave also scattered three hits and allowed one run while also striking out one. Murillo and Alyssa Cathcart each recorded multi-hit games for the Beavers. Workman and Paige Druskis each recorded hits of their own. 
 
NEXT UP: BVU will be heading to California next weekend to begin its spring break trip where the team is scheduled to play 10 games over a seven-game span. The first game of the week is scheduled for Sunday, Mar. 5 at 11 a.m. against Claremont-Mudd-Scripps.