STORM LAKE, Iowa (April 11, 2023) - The Buena Vista softball team was finally able to open its home schedule on Tuesday afternoon by hosting Nebraska Wesleyan, and the two teams played a pair of exciting contests. The Prairie Wolves however, benefited from four home runs in the opener to hold off BVU, 5-4, in eight innings before hitting two more in the nightcap before breaking it open in the seventh to win, 16-10.

NWU hit solo home runs in both the fourth and sixth innings to hold a 2-0 lead. Buena Vista hung around and came through in the clutch with a big two-out base hit from Paige Druskis that scored both Maddy Elwood and Nikki Griggs to tie the game up at 2-2. Druskis would advance to third on a throwing error back into the infield, but would be stranded there and the game moved into extra innings

The first two Prairie Wolves batters in the eighth were retired, but after a two-out walk, Sami MacDonald launched a two-run home run to give them a 4-2 lead. That was followed up by a solo home run that extended the margin to 5-2. Four five of the team's hits in the game left the yard.

BVU mounted a rally in its half of the inning, getting a two-out RBI single from Rylee Cain, and after a walk by Danica Workman, the Beavers had the tying run at second base, but the game ended on a strikeout one batter later.

Cain finished 2-for-3 with the two RBI and one sacrifice hit to help lead the way offensively for BVU. Freshman Cyrah Rasumssen went the distance inside the circle and was charged with the hard-luck loss. The right hander allowed five runs on five hits, struck out four and walked four.

The two teams traded punches in two of the first three innings, by each scoring a run in both the first and third frames. Claire Woodworth tied things up for BVU at 2-2 in the third with a pinch hit RBI double. The Prairie Wolves went in front, 5-2, with a three-run home run in the fourth inning before Elwood blasted a grand slam in the fifth to put the Beavers back in front, 6-5.

The sixth home run of the day for the Prairie Wolves (18-12, 3-5 A-R-C) put them back in the lead at 8-6 in the sixth inning. BVU got an RBI single from Amanda Franke in the bottom half to make it 8-7, but left the bases loaded to end the frame. NWU then pulled away in the seventh by scoring eight times, on only one hit. The Beavers got three runs back in the home half, but the comeback came up short as NWU hung on for the 16-10 triumph.

Druskis went 2-for-5 in the contest with three runs scored while Franke was 2-for-3 with two RBI and a pair of runs scored. Cain added two more hits and was also joined by Jamie Wendt.  BVU totaled 11 hits in the contest but was hindered by its five errors, defensively, and 10 walks allowed.

Kennedi Claycomb got the started and pitched the first three innings while earning a no-decision. The right hander was charged with two runs and four hits while walking three and striking out three.  Emma LaFave came on to begin the fourth inning and would suffer the loss. She was tagged for eight runs (five earned) and four hits.

Buena Vista is now 4-18 overall (0-4 A-R-C) and will continue its home slate by hosting Loras College on Saturday afternoon in a doubleheader that is scheduled to begin at 1 p.m.