INDIANOLA, Iowa (Apr. 19, 2025) - The Buena Vista baseball team began its three-game series at Simpson College on Saturday afternoon with a commanding doubleheader sweep of the Storm by scores of 11-1 (7 inn.) and 11-4.

BVU led 2-1 thru three innings of the opener before breaking things open with a six-run fourth inning. Freshman Cooper Sobeck got the scoring started with a 2-run single down the left field line that scored  both Brandon Jenkins and Connor Zegar. Senior Joel Garcia drew a bases loaded walk before senior Drew Taylor added an RBI single to make it 6-1. The Beavers then took advantage of a defensive miscue by the Storm that led to RBI's from both freshman Kaden Struck and sophomore Brandon Jenkins.

That was more than enough run support for senior Morgan Smith, who went the distance and allowed just a run-scoring triple in the third. He held Simpson to only five hits, struck out seven and walked only one, as he moved to 6-0 on the season and 22-8 in his career.

Garcia singled home a run in the fifth before Jenkins tripled home a run in the sixth before he scored on a passed ball for the game's final score. Garcia was 2-for-2 in the game with three RBI and one run scored. He also walked twice which adds to his new school record as he previously surpassed Mike Stephenson's previous mark of 90.

Evan Taylor was 2-for-3 with a triple and two walks, to go along with an RBI and two runs scored. It was his third triple of the season and the 12th of his career which moves him into a tie for third on the program's list. Brad Blum is second on the list with 16. His two runs scored give him 177 in his career which is a new program record for a career, surpassing Brad Blum's previous record of 176 from 2008-11.

Jenkins and Sobeck each finished with two hits apiece with Jenkins also walking a career-high three times. As a team, BVU took advantage of 12 walks issued by the Storm. 

The Beavers again left little doubt about the outcome of game two as it used another 6-run inning early in the game to build a big lead. Garcia had an RBI ground out in the first inning that scored Evan Taylor, who had doubled to lead off the game and advanced to third on a balk. BVU powered its way to the big lead in the third by getting RBI doubles from Zegar and Sobeck. Jenkins added an RBI double in the fifth that made it 8-0 before senior Tegan Bock and Evan Taylor each drove in runs to make it a 10-0 cushion.

BVU tacked on its final run in the sixth inning with an RBI single from Zegar before Simpson got on the board with a pair of runs in the sixth and two more in the ninth.

Senior Mark Eddie improved to 6-1 on the mound after another stellar outing. The right hander pitched seven innings, allowed just two runs and three hits while striking out seven and walking only one. Dylan Johnson and Koleson Evans each worked an inning of relief to help complete the sweep.

Evan Taylor was 4-for-5 in the game with a pair of doubles, two RBI and two runs scored. Zegar went 3-for-5 with a double and a triple, drove in two runs and also scored twice. BVU was also hit by three pitches in the game.

Buena Vista improves to 24-6 on the year and 13-2 in American Rivers Conference play. The Beavers and Storm will wrap up the series with the final game on Monday, Apr. 21 at 6 p.m.