The #4 in class 5A Indianola softball team blew out county rival #7 in class 4A Carlisle 9-1 in their season opener Tuesday evening on the road.

The Indians struck first in the top half of the first with Destiny Lewis scoring on a Macie Mays RBI single, then dropped four runs in the third with RBI hits from Kylee Tucker, Mara Bishop, and Selia Becker to take a 5-0 lead. Lewis added another run in the fifth scoring on a wild pitch, then Mays knocked in another run as the Indians solidified an insurmountable lead. The Wildcats got a run back in the bottom half of the fifth, but Lewis hit a two-run double to build the final 9-1 scoreline. Senior hurler Kate Kralik held the potent Wildcat offense to just three hits in the contest to pick up her first win in the circle.

Head coach Stacy Evans said the Indians early season success may hinge on the experience of the eight returning letterwinners from the last several years, and how they lead the team using the lessons they have already learned.

The Indians improve to 1-0 on the season, and will face off with Des Moines East in a doubleheader this evening on their home field.