STORM LAKE, Iowa (April 19, 2023) - The Buena Vista softball returned to the diamond on Wednesday afternoon and picked up its first American Rivers Conference victory by taking game two of a doubleheader against visiting Simpson College 4-2 and earn the split.
BVU broke a scoreless game in the opener by scoring on a wild pitch in the fourth inning for a 1-0 advantage. The lead was short-lived, however, as the Storm came right back in the fifth to score five runs on five hits, highlighted by a bases clearing double that made it a 5-1 game. BVU had chances throughout the game to tack on more runs but couldn't get the big hit, stranding nine runners overall. Simpson would later add a single run in the sixth en route to a 6-1 victory.
Nikki Griggs led the Beavers by going 2-for-2 in the contest while also being hit by a pitch.
Jamie Wendt,
Rylee Cain and
Danica Workman each added a hit as the Beavers were held to five overall.
Cyrah Rasmussen pitched the first 5.1 innings and was charged with all six runs on seven hits while striking out three.
Emma LaFave came on in relief to pitch the final 1.1 innings.
LaFave picked up where she left off as she got the start in game two and pitched her second complete game of the year. The freshman right hander allowed just two runs and four hits while striking out four.
The Storm got a leadoff home run in the first inning and added a second run in the second for a 2-1 lead. BVU got on the board in the bottom of the second when
Kyndal Hilgenberg ripped an RBI-double to the gap in left center field. The Beavers loaded the bases in the third, tying the game on a bases loaded walk by Griggs followed by a sacrifice fly from
Amanda Franke.
Cain scored a big insurance run in the fourth for BVU in the fourth to make it a 4-2 lead. Simpson threatened in the fifth and appeared to initially score a run on a double to the gap in right center, but the runner was called out for leaving first base early, leaving the two-run lead for BVU in tact. Simpson then stranded a pair of runners in the sixth before LaFave struck out a pair of batters in the seventh.
BVU was held to only three hits in the contest but was able to take advantage of eight walks.
Buena Vista is now 5-19 overall (1-5 A-R-C) and will travel to the University of Dubuque for a doubleheader on Saturday starting at 1 p.m.
