STORM LAKE, Iowa (March 28, 2026) - The Buena Vista softball team rallied from a 7-4 deficit to score four times in the sixth inning of game one on Saturday afternoon and hung on for an 8-7 victory over visiting Grinnell College. The Pioneers, however, would jump out to a lead in game two and hold of BVU 9-4 in game two.

The Pioneers came out and got a pair of RBI doubles to spark a three-run first inning and then added a two-run home run in the second that extended it to a 5-0 margin. BVU slowly started to chip away at the lead by scoring twice in the third, including an RBI double from Zoe Thayer and adding another run in the fourth on an RBI double from Karlee Noe.

Grinnell tacked on its final run with a sacrifice fly in the top of the sixth that made it 7-4. BVU then rallied in the bottom half with RBI singles from junior Jillian Garcia and Geneva Galler before a go-ahead, two-run single from junior Kali Irlmeier.

Freshman Ella Brown took over in relief in the second inning and pitched the final 5.2 innings allowing two runs and scattering seven hits while striking out six and walking only two. 

Noe finished 3-for-3 with a walk, RBI and two runs scored while freshman Maddy Raveling also went 3-for-4 with a double and three runs scored. Hanna Merron chipped in with two hits, including a double. As a team, BVU tallied four doubles in the game.

The Pioneers took control of game two with a five-run first inning and never looked back. BVU scored its first two runs in the fourth that made it 6-2 but Grinnell came right back with two runs in the fifth. Garcia and Thayer added RBI's in the bottom of the frame to cut the deficit down to 8-4 before the Pioneers tacked on the final run in the sixth.

Raveling and Noe capped their big days atop the line-up by each going 2-for-4 with a double and run scored. Jordan Fabirkiewicz was 1-for-2 with a walk and a run scored.

Grinnell pounded out 17 hits in the game but only three went for extra-bases.

Paige Mahler was roughed up in her 0.1 innings of work after getting the start. She was charged with five runs (three earned) and three hits while also walking three. Irlmeier came on in relief and worked the final 6.2 innings.

Buena Vista is now 6-16 overall and is right back in action on Sunday afternoon for a non-conference doubleheader at Cornell College. First pitch is set for 1 p.m.