NCAA DIVISION III SOFTBALL PLAYOFFS : Two Comebacks Thwart Cal Lutheran

A two-run home run by Andi Royster in the bottom of the eighth inning lifted second-seeded Buena Vista past third-seeded Cal Lutheran, 3-2, in an NCAA Division III first-round game in Storm Lake, Iowa.

Tracy Little led off the top of the eighth for Cal Lutheran with a triple. Bekkah Snider followed with a run-scoring single, giving the Regals a short-lived 2-1 advantage.

Cal Lutheran opened the scoring in the sixth inning when Shani Smyth singled home Snider, who got on base with a walk.

The Regals (28-11) were one out away from victory when Cal Lutheran pitcher Heidi Stevens walked Michelle Tedahl with the bases loaded, forcing in the tying run. Two hits and a walk loaded the bases for the Beavers.

Stevens (13-6) went the distance for Cal Lutheran, allowing seven hits and three walks with four strikeouts. During one stretch, she retired 11 consecutive batters.

Buena Vista starter Heather White (23-5), who struck out seven, allowed eight hits and one walk.

Cal Lutheran was trailing fourth-seeded Simpson (Iowa) College, 2-1, after three innings of their second-round game when it was postponed due to rain and rescheduled for completion today.