DUBUQUE, Iowa (April 1, 2023) - Senior Caden Mathewson belted a go-ahead two-run home run during a three-run fourth inning for the Buena Vista baseball team as the Beavers scored four unanswered runs to break a 2-2 tie and hang on in the end for an 8-5 American Rivers Conference victory at Loras College to begin the three-game weekend series between the two teams on Saturday afternoon.

After both teams scored twice in the first inning, Mathewson's long ball in the fourth was one of only two extra-base hits for the Beavers in the game despite the team posting 12 hits overall.  Zack Beekmann, who was one of five Beavers with two hits in the contest, doubled for the team's other extra-base knock.

Sophomore Evan Taylor registered a sacrifice fly in the seventh before the team added a pair of insurance runs in the eighth to build an 8-4 advantage. After a two-run homerun by Loras tied the game at 2-2 in the first, the Duhawks were then held scoreless until plating two in the seventh to get back within 6-4. Loras tried to rally again in the ninth, loading the bases with only one out, but would strand a pair.

Sophomore Morgan Smith pitched seven innings for the Beavers, allowing four runs on 12 hits, en route to his fourth victory of the season. Logan Lape-Brinkman came on in relief to pitch the final two innings and was charged with the final run while allowing two hits and striking out three.

Jordan Mathewson and Joel Garcia were also among the group with two hits and the duo also led the way with two runs scored each.

Buena Vista improves to 14-4 overall (5-0 A-R-C) and will look to win its third straight series to begin league play when the two teams round out the series with a doubleheader scheduled to begin at noon on Sunday.