PELLA, Iowa (Apr. 6, 2024) - Fifth-year senior Zack Beekmann doubled, homered and drove in a career-high six runs in Saturday's opener while graduate student Jordan Mathewson inches closer to the all-time hits record with a game-tying home run in the finale as the duo helped aid the Buena Vista baseball team to a DH sweep at Central College to complete the three-game series sweep.

Game one was a pitcher's duel in the early going with the game tied at 1-1 through five innings. Beekmann gave BVU the lead for good with a 2-run double in the sixth to highlight a 3-run inning and then launched a three-run homer in the seventh for his fourth home run of the year. The Beavers scored eight runs in the frame to break things open and end the game early.

Sophomore Tegan Bock was 3-for-4 at the plate with a run home and was one of five Beavers to finish with multiple hits. Beekmann was 2-for-4 and also scored twice with Mathewson, Drew Taylor and Joel Garcia also chipping in with two hits and two runs scored each. 

Freshman Ean McDaniel had a career day on the mound by securing his first career complete-game performance. He improved to 6-0 on the year after allowing just the one unearned run on four hits while striking out a career-high 14 batters. It's the most strikeouts recorded by a BVU pitcher since Morgan Smith also fanned 14 against the Dutch as a freshman in 2022.

The finale was scoreless until the fifth inning when BVU finally broke through in the top of the inning with three runs. Evan Taylor started the scoring with an RBI double down the right field line before Garcia followed with a 2-run double to the gap in right center for his 28th and 29th RBI's of the year.

Central (9-13, 3-4 A-R-C) came storming right back in the home half by pushing across four runs to take its first lead of the series at 4-3. That's how things stood until Mathewson came through in the clutch with a game-tying solo blast in the sixth for his third of the year. He finished the game 1-for-3 at the plate and moves within two base hits of tying the program's all-time hits mark of 223.

Beekmann capped off his big weekend with the go-ahead RBI single in the seventh for his seventh RBI of the day. He finished 1-for-4 in the contest with the lone RBI. Garcia added two more hits in the game, including his 2-run double, while Evan Taylor adds a pair of doubles to extend his league-leading total this year to 13. Beekmann is right behind with 12.

Fifth-year senior Mason Gehling pitched five strong innings for the Beavers to earn the win and improve to 5-2 overall. He was charged with all four runs (two earned) on only two hits while striking out eight and walking two. Johnny Vallinch allowed just two hits and fanned two in his two innings of relief before Mark Eddie pitched two scoreless innings to finish things off and earn his second save in as many chances. He allowed just one hit, one walk and punched out four.

Buena Vista improves to 19-6 on the year (8-2 A-R-C) and plays its true home opener on Tuesday, Apr. 9, by hosting Wartburg College (14-8, 5-5) in a doubleheader starting at 3:30 p.m. The Knights held off BVU 8-5 this past Tuesday in the single nine-inning game.