AUBURNDALE, Fla. (March 13, 2023) - The Buena Vista baseball team jumped out to an early lead and then were able to hold off a late Benedictine rally en route to a thrilling 8-7 victory to close out its spring trip and give head coach Steve Eddie his 500th career win.

BVU scored five times in the bottom of the second inning to lead 5-0. Four of the five runs came on singles, including a two-run knock by Jordan Mathewson which made it 3-0. Kyler Corcoran and Calvin Harris each added RBI base knocks while Drew Taylor chimed in with a sacrifice fly.

The Eagles responded in the fourth with a five-spot of their own to pull even at 5-5 before BVU senior Calvin Harris blasted a go-ahead two-run HR in the fifth to give BVU a 7-5 lead. Both teams tacked on runs in the sixth before the Eagles threatened in the eighth with two on and no outs, but were only able to push across one run. 

Logan Lape-Brinkman came on in relief with one out in the eighth to pitch the final 1.2 innings, allowing just one hit and striking out two, en route to his second save this season. Zach Pleggenkuhle got the start and pitched four innings while being charged with five runs and seven hits, despite striking out four. Nolan Faber picked up the win in relief, surrendering only two runs and five hits, while striking out four over 3.1 innings.

Jordan Mathewson notched his second straight four-hit day, going 4-for-5 from the leadoff spot with two RBI and a pair of runs scored. Harris, who belted his second home run of the year, went 2-for-3 with three RBI and a run scored. BVU finished the game with 10 hits.

The Eagles (7-3) hit a pair of home runs in the game and had 13 hits overall. They had six different players tally two hits in the game.

Eddie, who is in his 23rd season at the BVU helm has spent his entire collegiate coaching career with the Beavers and now boasts a career record of 500-376-2.

Buena Vista snaps a three-game skid and improves to 9-4 on the year. The team is scheduled to take on Monmouth College (10:30 a.m.) and Augustana (Ill.) (5:30 p.m.) on Saturday, March 18 in Moline, Ill., before facing Dominican University (Ill.) on Sunday, March 19 at 11:00 a.m.