STORM LAKE, Iowa (May 1, 2026) - The Buena Vista softball team hosted Loras College in what was the final games of the year for the Beavers, but the Duhawks came to town and spoiled Senior Day by posting a 12-0 (5 inn.) victory in the opener followed by a 10-2 triumph in the finale.

The Duhawks used their power to aid in the scoring throughout game one. They got a leadoff inside-the-park home run to take the quick 1-0 lead and later added a two-run homer off the bat of Kyia Steger to make it 3-0. That's how things stood until Loras broke things open with a six-run fourth inning. Steger highlighted the inning by launching her second home run of the day the opposite way over the right field fence to make it 8-0. Then in the fifth, she added her third two-run round tripper of the game to cap the scoring at 12-0.

BVU was held without a single base-runner in the game as Kaili Henning tossed a perfect game, including seven strikeouts, for the Duhawks and improved her overall record to 10-6 on the year. Steger was 3-for-3 with the three home runs, walked once, drove in six runs and scored three times. Dana Skorich went 4-for-4 with a pair of doubles and a run scored. Loras finished with 16 hits in the game with four doubles and four home runs.

Senior Rylie Garner got the start and made her final collegiate debut inside the circle. She pitched 3.2 innings, allowed seven runs and nine hits to go along with two strikeouts. She gave way to fellow senior Kali Irlmeier who pitched one inning before freshman Ella Brown came on to get the final out of the fifth.

After the Duhawks pushed across a run in the top of the first, the Beavers got on the board for the first time in the bottom half by tying the score on an RBI single from sophomore Jordan Fabirkiewicz.

Freshman Jaylyn Craun gave BVU its first lead of the day in the second inning with an RBI single with two outs, but the Beavers stranded runners at the corners. The Duhawks would then come back to regain the lead at 4-2 with three runs in the fourth before adding two in each of the next two innings and then two more in the seventh.

Loras would hold a 15-6 advantage in total hits but had only one go for extra bases in this game, but it was a double from Steger.

Hanna Merron doubled for the lone extra-base knock for the Beavers and was 1-for-2 overall. The top four batters in the line-up each had one hit for BVU, including freshman Maddy Raveling, who scored one of the two runs. Lindy Nelson added the final hit and scored the other run.

Paige Mahler made the start and went 3.0 innings, allowing four runs and eight hits while striking out three. Seniors Grace Fuhrman and Kenzie Dumbaugh each came on in relief and combined to pitch the final four innings.

Rachel Peat (6-0) picked up the win for the Duhawks (26-12, 9-7 A-R-C) with Steger coming on to pitch the final four innings and striking out five to earn her third save of the year.

Buena Vista ends its season at 7-33 overall (1-15 A-R-C). The games wrapped up the careers for seniors: Grace Fuhrman, Kenzie Dumbaugh, Kali Irlmeier, Keirsten Trayte and Rylie Garner. The group was recognized and honored in a ceremony that took place on the field prior to the start of the doubleheader.