PELLA, Iowa (Apr. 5, 2024) - Buena Vista junior Evan Taylor hit a two-run home run in the first inning to aid in the Beavers early 3-0 lead and they never looked back en route to a big 11-4 triumph at Central College to begin the three-game weekend series held at the Kuyper Athletics Complex.

Taylor finished the game 3-for-6 with a double, home run, a game-high four RBI and three runs scored. Joel Garcia and Zack Beekmann also added three hits apiece as BVU pounded out 17 total. Garcia doubled, drove in two runs and scored twice while Beekmann also doubled during the three-run first and drove in one. Drew Taylor finished with two hits and matched his brother with three runs scored.

After BVU built the early lead, the Dutch got one run back in the bottom of the first inning, but it was all Beavers from there. Senior Grant Oseka and junior Zach Pleggenkuhle added RBI singles in the third inning to extend the cushion to 5-1. Both teams added a run in the fifth inning before Garcia doubled home a run and Beekmann singled home another to make it 8-2. Evan Taylor's 2-run double in the sixth highlighted a 3-run frame for the Beavers. The Dutch plated their final two runs in the eighth. Beekmann and Evan Taylor each enter the game leading the A-R-C in total doubles this season.

The early cushion was more than enough for junior right hander Morgan Smith (2-1) who pitched a strong 7.2 innings, allowing four runs (two earned) on six hits while fanning eight batters and walking only two. Ranked in the top-30 of Division III in total strikeouts, today marks the fourth time this season Smith has struck out at least eight batters in a game. Freshman Jake Eddie came on to finish things off over the final 1.1 innings, working around one hit with two punch outs.

Colton DeRocher and Dom DeLaPaz combined for four of Central's seven hits to lead the Dutch (9-11, 3-2 A-R-C) at the dish. One of DeRocher's two hits was an RBI double.

Buena Vista snaps a two-game skid and improves to 17-6 overall (6-2 A-R-C). The two teams wrap up the series on Saturday with a doubleheader starting at 12 p.m.