STORM LAKE, Iowa (March 23, 2026) - The Buena Vista softball team hosted Martin Luther College on Monday night for its 2026 home opener and would claim a doubleheader sweep over the Knights, including a thrilling 2-1 walk-off victory in the finale.

The games were originally scheduled to be played at Martin Luther but due to the winter storm from last week, the field in New Ulm, Minn., was unplayable. Therefore, the Knights were the home team in game one with the Beavers being the home team in game two.

In the opener, BVU jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first inning with the help of a pair of Martin Luther defensive miscues. Junior Jillian Garcia reached on a fielding error by the third baseman and then advanced to second on a throwing error. She later came around to score when freshman Zoey Thayer launched a double to left center.

Martin Luther got an RBI double in the bottom of the second inning to cut the deficit in half, and that's how things remained until BVU broke things open in the fifth with three runs to make it 5-1. Junior Kali Irlmeier got the scoring started with an RBI single that scored a run with a second run scoring on the same play after a fielding error by the left fielder. Freshman Arielle Bowers then stole third with the throw down sailing out to left field allowing her to score.

In the sixth inning, freshman Hanna Merron blasted her first career home run - a solo shot - over the fence in left to make it 6-1.

Irlmeier finished 3-for-4 at the plate with the RBI with freshman Karlee Noe going 2-for-4 with a run scored. She also went the distance inside the circle, scattering 10 hits and striking out two, en route to her first collegiate victory.

It was a pitcher's duel in the nightcap until the very end. BVU broke a scoreless game with an RBI double by Thayer in the second inning that scored freshman Jaylynn Craun. The Beavers had multiple chances to extend the lead throughout the game but couldn't get the big knock when it needed it and stranded eight runners.

Martin Luther (1-12) eventually tied the game in the top of the seventh with a two-out RBI single. The Beavers looked to walk it off in the bottom half after the first two batters reached but the Knights worked out of the jam with a strikeout, fielder's choice at third and a pop out.

The international tiebreaker went into effect in the eighth with a runner being placed at second base but sophomore Paige Mahler worked around it by retiring all three runners she faced. In the home half, Brown came up with one out and laced the game-winning RBI double into the gap in left center that scored pinch runner Jordan Fabirkiewicz from second.

Brown finished 2-for-4 with the double and RBI. Noe led the way with three hits, including a pair of doubles and pushes her season average up to .300. Thayer also added a pair of base hits and the one RBI.

Mahler (3-4) pitched a gem inside the circle for the Beavers, allowing only five hits and worked around three walks while striking out two en route to her third complete game of the season.

Buena Vista improves to 5-13 overall and is right back out on the diamond Tuesday afternoon hosting Mt. Marty in a non-conference doubleheader starting at 3 p.m.