WAVERLY, Iowa (April 7, 2023) - The Buena Vista baseball team was back in action on Friday night for the first game of a three-game road series at Wartburg College.

Wartburg and Buena Vista traded blows early. It was Buena Vista who struck first, scoring once in the first on an RBI single from Calvin Harris and four more times in the second thanks to RBI's from Joel Garcia, Drew Taylor and Jordan Mathewson. Wartburg responded by posting four runs in the following four innings to knot the game up at 4-4 after its final run in the sixth.

It set the stage for the seventh inning when the Beavers' lineup did what it's done all season, by putting up a crooked number and pulling away from the Knights. The unit had an eight-run rally in the seventh that was capped off with a two-run shot from Zack Beekmann. They posted another two runs in the eighth to secure a run-rule win.

Morgan Smith (5-1) earned the winning decision for the Beavers. The sophomore pitcher navigated through traffic, allowing four runs (three earned) on 12 hits, and a walk over six innings of work. Logan Lape-Brinkman pitched two scoreless innings to take the staff the rest of the way. 

The BVU lineup had another huge day, posting 14 runs on 17 hits. The wealth was spread with seven different hitters recording double-digit hits. However, it was the bottom of the order that stood out.  Beekman record two hits while driving in and scoring twice each. His homerun in the seventh was his second in the past three games. Caden Mathewson and Tegan Bock each had three-hit performances. Bock also scored three times.

The loss drops Wartburg to 8-10 overall and 3-6 in conference play.