Written by Colton O'Hern
BVU Athletics Communication Student Intern

STORM LAKE, Iowa (Apr. 3, 2025) - The Buena Vista softball team was finally at home on Thursday afternoon for its home opener after mother nature had forced a few many delays. The Beavers took on a tough Augustana softball team in a non-conference doubleheader but the Vikings got a few timely hits in both games to earn the sweep with 5-4 (10 inn.) and 4-1 victories, respectively.

The Beavers started out the gates really well in game one as senior Paige Druskis hit a triple while freshman Bradi Krager singled, allowing Druskis to score to put BVU up 1-0 in the first inning.  The Vikings responded with a pair of runs in the second to take their first lead at 2-1. BVU got back on the board in the fourth when senior Kayla Farmer hit an amazing single toward right field sending senior Madalyn Elwood and Krager home. 

In the top of the fifth, the Vikings tied things up when they hit an RBI single to make it 3-3. The Beavers quickly came back in the bottom of the inning when Druskis hit a double allowing Workman to score and taking a 4-3 lead. As the seventh inning came around, the Vikings were able to rally and get a 2-out RBI single to tie things up at 4-4. The game remained tied until the tenth inning where the Vikings once again rallied and scored a run to grab a 5-4 advantage. The Beavers loaded the bases with no outs in the bottom half, but Augustana got three straight strikeouts to win the first game of the doubleheader 5-4.

Druskis and Krager both ended with team-high three hits, and their one RBI each. Druskis had a double and a triple in her efforts in batting. Farmer had the team-high with two RBIs on her one hit. As a team, the Beavers finished the game with 11 hits overall.

Riley Garner went the distance inside the circle for the Beavers, scattering 14 hits, striking out one and walking two.

Game two started out very unfavorable for BVU as the Vikings scored off a single RBI in the first inning to grab a quick 1-0 lead. The Beavers, however, kept it close until the fifth inning where Augustana (11-1 overall) scored three more times with a passed ball followed by a 2-run single, putting the score at 4-0.

The only score for the Beavers in the second game came from Druskis, when she stole home in the sixth inning. Druskis had a team-high two hits and one stolen base in the contest. Elwood also got a hit as BVU was held to only three base knocks overall.

Kenzie Dumbaugh (1-2) suffered the loss despite a strong complete-game effort inside the circle. She allowed six hits and struck out one but did walk five.

Buena Vista is now at 5-11 after the tough home opener. The team turns right around on Friday, Apr. 4 at 3 p.m. to host Wartburg College for a doubleheader to begin American Rivers Conference play.