Opening Night baseball coverage on KRLS3 delivered a thrilling win for the Pella baseball team over Grinnell, which ended in the most unusual of ways. With the game tied at 2 in the bottom of the seventh, a pitch got away from the Tiger catcher, allowing pinch runner Kaden Lyle to dance freely across home plate to secure the 3-2 victory.

It was a slow start to the game offensively for the Dutch. Grinnell got on the board in the second inning, but it wasn’t until the fourth before Pella pushed its first two runs across the plate, courtesy of a 2RBI single from River Baker.

Pella held a 2-1 advantage heading into the seventh, but Grinnell tied the game in the top of the inning, setting the Dutch up for the walkoff opportunity. Pella head coach Jesse Jablonski gives his pitching staff credit for holding the Tigers at bay, particularly the relief innings provided by junior Mason Wittmer.

“He’s a guy we’ve been excited about the entire offseason. Before everything shut down, we were throwing some bullpens, and he looked extremely sharp. The changeup, he had it working tonight. It was a devastating, filthy pitch, and he threw it well. Tanner [Dunsbergen] gave us three good innings, only gave up the one run. He wasn’t super sharp with his off-speed stuff, but his fastball was good enough to get outs, and he did a fantastic job. Drew [Hillman] in the seventh, trying him out in the closer position for the first time as a senior, he really threw well.”

Dunsbergen got the start, giving up four hits, two walks and a strikeout in three innings of work. In Wittmer’s three innings, he gave up four base hits and one walk while striking out six batters. River Baker led the way at the plate with two base hits and two RBI’s. Pella starts the season 1-0 with the victory. The Dutch return to action this evening at Indianola, a game that will air live on 94.3 KNIA.

The Pella softball team had trouble finding their stride offensively, falling to Grinnell 5-1. The Tigers used a steady stream of scoring to secure the win. The 0-1 Pella softball team returns to action Wednesday with a home doubleheader with Pella Christian. Both of those games will air live on the KRLS3 stream at KNIAKRLS.com.