A five-run first gave the Pella baseball team all the cushion they needed in a 6-4 victory over Newton, as heard live on 92.1 KRLS Friday night.

Four straight hits from Pella bats sparked the first three runs, including an RBI single for Joel Ruiter and two-run triple from Jaden Rolffs to chase the Cardinals’ starting pitcher Trey VanderLaan back to the dugout without an out recorded.

Head Coach Jesse Jablonski tells KNIA/KRLS Sports while he was pleased with the beginning of the game, he was hoping to see a few more runs in the next few innings.

After Newton scored a tally each in the 2nd and 3rd frames, the game was scoreless until the Little Dutch struck for another run in the 6th. Rolffs and leadoff hitter Caleb Piersma each finished 3-for-4 for the Little Dutch.

Landon Vander Leest got the win in 4 2/3 innings and Joel Ruiter fueled a seven-out save. Pella moves to 13-11 on the season with an even 8-8 Little Hawkeye Conference record.

The Lady Dutch fell behind 4-0 in the first inning of their contest against Newton and were unable to gain traction, eventually falling 11-1 in seven innings.

Pella’s softball team drops to 5-22, and plays in a tournament at Ankeny High School later today. The baseball team is off until a baseball-softball double header with Oskaloosa at Pella High School.