STORM LAKE, Iowa (Apr. 18, 2026) - For the first time in more than two weeks the Buena Vista softball team was back on its home diamond on Saturday afternoon to host Luther College in what would be the final trip to town for the Norse as a conference foe, but the Beavers were dealt a pair of defeats by scores of 13-0 (5 inn.) and 10-4.

In the opener it was Luther scoring three runs in four of the five innings and ending with 12 hits overall to take the win. BVU was held to only two hits, one of which was a double by freshman Karlee Noe, who was 1-for-2 in the game.

Rylie Garner (0-1) made the start in the circle for BVU but lasted only 2.0 innings and allowed six runs (three earned) and eight hits. The Beavers used four pitchers in the game overall.

Luther scratched across one run in the top of the first inning of game two but BVU was able to limit any further damage in the inning by getting a bases loaded fly out to center to end the inning.

Freshman Maddy Raveling doubled to lead off the bottom of the inning and later came around to score on an RBI groundout from Garner that tied the score at 1-1. That momentum carried over into the bottom of the second inning when the Beavers took their first lead of the day. Raveling drew a bases loaded walk to plate the first run before a big two-out, two-run single through the right side by Noe extended the lead to 4-1.

After a scoreless third inning, Luther (16-10, 5-3 A-R-C) rallied to score four two-out runs to regain a 5-4 advantage. That's how things would stand until the Norse added three more in the sixth and the final two in the seventh. BVU had just three two-out hits over the final two innings.

Raveling reached base three times in the game and finished 1-for-2 with the double, a pair of walks and one RBI. Noe was 1-for-3 with the two RBI while junior Jillian Garcia was 3-for-4 with a double.

Junior Paige Mahler (3-7) pitched the first 3.2 innings and was charged with the first five runs (two earned) and five hits while walking three. After senior Grace Fuhrman came on and walked three batters, the ball was handed over to Garner to allowed the final five runs over three total innings.

Buena Vista turns right back around tomorrow afternoon to host the University of Dubuque (16-14, 2-6 A-R-C) in a doubleheader starting at 1 p.m. The games were originally scheduled for Saturday, Apr. 4, but were postponed due to unfavorable playing conditions.