DUBUQUE, Iowa (April 22, 2023) - The Buena Vista softball team held the lead late in both games of Saturday's doubleheader at the University of Dubuque, but the Beavers couldn't close the door in either contest, dropping the opener 8-7 and the nightcap, 6-5.

BVU got onto the board in the first inning of the opening game with an RBI single from Nattie Murillo.  The Spartans, however, came right back in the bottom half and took a 2-1 lead after a two-run home run. They then extended the margin to 3-1 in the second with an RBI single.

The Beavers would rally in the fifth with six runs to grab a 7-3 lead. They scored a pair of runs on a fielding error before later getting a 2-run double from Amanda Franke.

Dubuque pushed across one run in the bottom half of the fifth before rallying in the sixth with three more runs capped by a go-ahead hit by pitch.

BVU got the leadoff batter on in the seventh and moved her into scoring position following a sacrifice bunt, but the rally came up short with a popup and flyout to end the game.

Murillo and Jamie Wendt each finished 3-for-4 at the plate and combined for three RBI. Paige Druskis and Rylee Cain each added two hits as the Beavers got 10 of their 12 hits from four of their top-5 batters in the lineup. Emma LaFave suffered the loss in relief, allowing four runs (one earned) on two hits. Cyrah Rasmussen pitched the first five innings and allowed four runs and six hits.

Nikki Griggs doubled home a pair of runs in the first inning of game two to give BVU an early 2-0 lead. It was just her second double of the season and her fourth and fifth RBI on the year. Wendt added a sacrifice fly in the second inning to make it 3-0.

The Spartans drilled their second home run of the day - this one a 3-run shot - that tied the game at 3-3 in the third. That's how things stood until the seventh when BVU regained the lead at 5-3 after a two-run single from LaFave.

Dubuque, however, would not go away and rallied in the bottom half of the frame, leading to a walk-off 3-run double to win the game 6-5.

BVU, which out-hit the Spartans 10-5 in the contest, was led by Griggs who went 3-for-4 with the team's only extra-base hit. Cain chipped in with two more hits.

LaFave (3-6) went the distance inside the circle with all six runs allowed being unearned. She also struck out three and walked four.

Buena Vista is now 5-21 (1-7 A-R-C) and will travel across town on Sunday to play a doubleheader at Loras College. First pitch is set for 1 p.m.