AUBURNDALE, Fla. March 11, 2023) - The Buena Vista baseball team was back in action on Saturday following a back-to-back off days for a match-up against No. 23 Aurora University, but the Beavers, despite getting on the scoreboard first, were dealt a tough 7-4 setback.

Zach Pleggenkuhle gave the Beavers a 1-0 advantage in the second inning with an RBI single to right center. That proved to be the team's only lead, as the Spartans responded with a three-run home run in the third inning for a 3-1 cushion before adding on a two-run double in the fifth to extend the margin to 5-1. 

That's how things stood until the eighth when Drew Taylor scorched a two-out, two-run triple to right center which brought BVU back within 5-3. The Spartans, however, had yet another answer by hitting a solo home run and tacking on a sacrifice fly in the home half that made it 7-3.

Logan Mueller tripled home a run with two outs in the ninth which made it 7-4 but he would be stranded there.

Jordan Mathewson had a team-high three hits to help lead the Beavers, including one of the team's three triples. Drew Taylor recorded two hits and had the two RBI while Mueller along with Calvin Harris and Joel Garcia also had a pair of hits. The Beavers tallied 13 hits overall, including five that went for extra bases.

Morgan Smith made the start on the bump and pitched 6.2 innings, allowing five runs on eight hits while striking out six and walking only one. Brayden Polzein came on in relief and worked the final 1.1 innings.

Auora (7-2) had 11 hits in the contest with two of its three extra-base hits coming via the long ball.

Buena Vista dips to 8-3 overall and will look to snap its two-game skid when it takes on No. 5 Rowan University on Sunday at 1:45 p.m. (ET).