MANKATO, Minn. (Feb. 24, 2025) - Buena Vista senior Joel Garcia blasted a go-ahead 3-run home run in the top of the ninth in game one against Bethany Lutheran on Monday afternoon to send the Beavers to a thrilling 7-6 victory before the Vikings bounced back and walked-off BVU in the nightcap, 8-7, with a one-out, two-run single.

In the opener, both teams combined for just five hits, but made the most of each one. The Vikings got the scoring going in the second with a solo home run to the alley in left center for a 1-0 lead. BVU plated its first two runs of the season in the top of the fourth inning when freshman Kaden Struck laced a 2-run double down the left field line for his first career hit and RBI. That's how things stood until the eighth when senior Drew Taylor tripled to right center field with brother Evan driving him in with an RBI single to left.

Sophomore Johnny Vallinch relieved senior starter Morgan Smith to begin the bottom of the eighth and would eventually be tagged for five runs and three hits, including a grand slam with one out that put the Vikings in front, 6-3, heading to the ninth. The Beavers began the ninth with back-to-back walks before a fly out and strikeout sent the team down to its final out. Zach Pleggenkuhle came on to pinch hit and came through in the clutch with a double down the right field line that scored senior Jacob Eversole. Then with runners at second and third, Garcia launched a 2-2 pitch over the wall in straight away center field to give BVU a 7-6 lead. Junior Logan Lape-Brinkman came on to pitch the ninth and worked around a two-out hit-by-pitch to record his first save of the year.

Four of the five BVU hits went for extra-bases. Garcia also walked and stole a base for the Beavers while Evan Taylor and Jake Eddie were each hit by a pitch. 

Smith gave the team 7.0 strong innings, allowing only two hits, walked one and struck out eight to break a school record for career strikeouts that had stood for nearly 50 years. He came into the season needing only two to surpass Larry Frakes' (1973-76) total of 228 and now stands at 235 and counting. Despite the rough eighth inning, Vallinch (1-0) earned his fourth win of the year while Brinkman's save is the fourth of his career.

The bats came alive for both teams in the nightcap as they combined for 22 base knocks and 15 runs. Junior Seth Bush drove home his first career run to get the scoring started in the second inning with a bases loaded walk. Bethany Lutheran turned around and plated a run in the home half to pull even at 1-1 before the Beavers got a sacrifice fly from sophomore Brandon Jenkins and an RBI infield single from junior Connor Zegar in the third to build a 3-1 cushion.

The Vikings stormed back with a three-run home run in the third and added two more runs in the fourth to regain the lead at 6-3. BVU came all the way back with a big four-run seventh inning that was capped by a two-run blast on the first pitch to Zegar that put the Beavers back in front, 7-6. It remained a one-run game until the ninth inning when Bethany Lutheran rallied against closer Koleson Evans. The sophomore came on in relief with one-out and the bases empty and issued back-to-back walks before a balk moved the runners up to second and third. After a lengthy battle by pinch hitter Gary Swann, he finally lifted a two-run single out into shallow right center field that scored the game-winning runs.

Zegar finished 2-for-4 with a walk and three RBI, both Taylor's finished 2-for-5 with a double, RBI and two runs scored and Jenkins went 2-for-3 with a double and a run scored. BVU tallied six extra-base hits in the contest and finished with 10 hits overall. The Vikings, meanwhile, had 12 hits with 10 of them being singles. They also stole five bases.

Sophomore Ean McDaniel made the start on the hill for BVU, going 4.0 innings, allowing 10 hits and six runs (five earned), walking one and striking out five. Pleggenkuhle pitched 4.1 scoreless innings, allowing only one hit and striking out five, before Evans was charged with two runs and one hit while walking two without recording an out.

Both teams, now 1-1 overall, will face each other in the series finale on Tuesday at noon.