Buena Vista sitting in IIAC catbird’s seat

CEDAR RAPIDS - They don't have it wrapped, but just about.

The Buena Vista Beavers need just one more win to take the Iowa Conference Baseball Tournament. They scored four runs in the first inning and got another very strong pitching performance to roll past Central, 7-2, in a pivotal winner's bracket game Friday afternoon at Veterans Memorial Stadium.

The top-seeded Beavers (35-7) are afforded the luxury of sitting back, relaxing and watching to see who they get in Saturday's 1 p.m. championship game. Even if they lose, they'd get another crack, as it's double elimination.

The last time a team that was in this position and didn't win the tournament was 2009, so even history is on their side.

'It's a huge momentum boost to know that we still have to get beat twice,” said BV center fielder Neil Marshall. 'Central has been on fire recently, so it was great to get on top of them early and maintain a lead the whole game.”

Buena Vista had to rally in the late innings to edge Loras in its first game Thursday night, but there was no rally needed here. Tanner Truesdell had a two-run triple in the first and Scott Harris threw a complete game to hand Central its first loss of the tournament.

Harris finished with a seven-hitter, walking none and striking out eight.

'That was huge,” he said. 'Now we have our entire bullpen for the championship game. That's what has kept us a good team this year. We've got me and Jon (Ringblom) to throw the first two games, then we go to our bullpen. We're sitting real good right now.”

Third-seeded Central (27-15) won twice Thursday, including an upset of second-seeded Wartburg, and plays Loras (19-22) in Saturday morning's to-the-championship game. Wartburg (25-17) went a surprising two and out, giving up three ninth-inning runs and losing to Simpson, 7-6, Friday afternoon.

Coe was the first team eliminated, losing Friday morning to Simpson, 4-2. Loras ousted Simpson Friday night.

The winner of this tournament advances to NCAA Division III regional play.

Friday's Scores

Simpson 4, Coe 2 (Coe eliminated)

Buena Vista 7, Central 2

Simpson 7, Wartburg 6 (Wartburg eliminated)

Loras 12, Simpson 1 (8) (Simpson eliminated)

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