Buena Vista uses late rally, remains alive

CEDAR RAPIDS – A five-run eighth inning offensive outburst led fifth-seeded Buena Vista to a 9-4 win over sixth-seeded Simpson in the opening game of the second day of the 2009 Iowa Conference baseball Championships.

The Beavers (27-13) broke up a 4-4 tie with outfielder Tyler Case’s RBI single that eluded Simpson second baseman Jesse Reis. BV didn’t stop there, either. Outfielder Brandon Pietrzyk and infielder Mark Blum added RBI singles, and infielder Michael Stephenson tripled in two runs with a shot to the gap in left center.

Pietrzyk and infielder Brock Yossi each topped the winning team’s offense with two hits. Ryan Wuebker and Kyle Dupic combined on the mound to hold the Storm (19-23) to just four hits. Simpson, who saw its 2009 campaign come to a close, was led by two RBIs from infielder Dave Johnson.

Buena Vista advanced into a 7 p.m. game tonight against either top-seeded Loras or third-seeded Coe.