SIOUX CENTER, Iowa (Feb. 11, 2024) - The Buena Vista softball team returned to the diamond inside of the American State Bank Complex on Sunday afternoon, and for the second straight day came away with a doubleheader split after taking the opener against Mount Marty, 4-3, and suffering a tough 12-1 (6 inn.) setback in the nightcap.

The Beavers jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the top of the second inning of game one when freshman shortstop Jillian Garcia laced a two-run double to center that scored Emma Haines and Nikki Griggs. The Lancers cut the deficit in half in the fourth with an RBI single, but BVU came right back in the fifth with a two-run single from Madalyn Elwood that pushed the lead to 4-1.

Mount Marty rallied in the bottom of the sixth with an unearned run and an RBI single, but Rylie Garner took over for starting pitcher Kennedi Claycomb and got a big pop out to second base to end any further threat. The Lancers got a two-out single in the seventh but the runner was stranded there to end the game.

Claycomb earned her second straight win after pitching 5.2 innings, allowing three runs (two earned) on just three hits, while striking out a season-high five and walking two. Garner pitched the final 1.1 innings en route to her first career save. 

Senior Amanda Franke was 2-for-3 with a double to lead BVU which tallied six base knocks overall. The Beavers drew six walks in the game but stranded nine runners.

In the finale, the Lancers scored a run in the first and broke the game open with four in the second for a 5-0 cushion. BVU got on the board in the fifth with an RBI double to left from Paige Druskis. Mount Marty put the game away with seven runs in the top of the sixth.

Jamie Wendt was 2-for-2 to highlight the Beavers offensively with Franke going 1-for-2 and adding her first triple of the year while also scoring the team's only run.

Rebecka Finlayson (1-2) suffered the loss in the circle after allowing five runs and six hits over just two innings. Keirsten Trayte pitched 3.1 innings and was charged with five runs (three earned) and struck out two.

Buena Vista is 2-4 overall and plays four games at the Bethany Lutheran Invite inside of the Mankato Dome on Feb. 24-25.