SIOUX CENTER, Iowa (Feb. 10, 2024) - The Buena Vista softball team returned to the American State Bank Complex for the second straight weekend, and the Beavers got things started with a doubleheader split against Dakota Wesleyan on Saturday.

The Tigers needed only sacrifice flies in both the fourth and fifth innings of game one to edge the Beavers, 2-0. Buena Vista threatened in each of the first two innings but would strand runners in scoring position in each frame. Trailing by a pair in the sixth inning, BVU loaded the bases with only one out but back-to-back strikeouts ended the threat. The Beavers then went down in order in the seventh to end the game.

Despite the loss, BVU out-hit the Tigers, 8-5, and were led by Madalyn Elwood's 3-for-3 performance. Jamie Wendt added a pair of singles and walked once. Kennedi Claycomb suffered a tough loss in her season debut despite allowing just two runs and five hits over five innings. Rylie Garner pitched a perfect sixth inning on only six pitches.

Dakota Wesleyan scored in each of the first two innings and held a 2-0 lead before the Beavers erupted for a season-high five runs in the bottom of the second inning to go in front, 5-2. The first two runs came across on bases loaded walks before Nattie Murillo was hit by pitch. Elwood, along with Jillian Garcia, added RBI singles for the three-run cushion.

Both teams put up scoreless innings over the middle part of the game before the Beavers pushed across a big insurance run in the sixth. Elwood was hit by a pitch with two outs and then came all the way around to score on Nikki Griggs' RBI-double that made it 6-2. The Tigers managed a 2-out single in the seventh, but that runner was stranded their to end the game.

Griggs was 3-for-4 with the run-scoring double to lead the Beavers at the dish. All nine batters in the line-up finished with a hit as BVU finished with 11 overall. 

Rebecka Finlayson earned her first career victory after pitching three innings, allowing two runs (one earned) on six hits. Keirsten Trayte pitched the final four and earned her first save. She allowed no runs and just four hits.

Buena Vista is now 1-3 on the year and will be right back in action inside the Dome on Sunday for a DH against Mount Marty. First pitch is scheduled for 2 p.m.