The Class 4A #7 ranked Indianola softball team’s offensive firepower was on full display Friday night as they needed just five innings to defeat Pella Christian 18-0 in a game heard live on the KRLS3 stream at KNIAKRLS.com.

After a scoreless first inning, the Indians sent 12 batters to the plate en route to scoring seven runs on just five hits. Indianola increased their advantage in the fourth inning with three more runs coming on just two hits. The Indians again sent 12 hitters to the dish in the fifth inning, this time plating eight runs on seven hits. Leading the way for the Indianola offense was Brynn Ortlund with a pair of singles and a triple. Indians Head Coach Stacy Evans was happy to see Ortlund’s success Friday night, but said it’s been a blessing just to have her on the field this season. 

“She had surgery that held her up for six weeks and we got her back, and so just to have her on the field and healthy is a gift. But what she can display out there is fantastic. You know, she can lay a bunt down. She said tremendously fast. She’s dynamic in that. And tonight, I love to see her release a few and not play the short game and go long when fielders are playing in on her, she really took advantage of that.”

Natalie Harrill, Emma Eekhoff, and Clarie Braafhart recorded the lone three hits on the night for Pella Christian. Eagles Head Coach Karen Harrill said that she was frustrated with the effort she saw from her squad Friday night in the loss.

“Of course, it’s not fun. We had 11 runs scored against us with two outs, and we had multiple errors and multiple walks, so the bottom line is we just did not play with passion tonight at all.”

Indianola improved their record to 15-7 overall and 9-2 in the Little Hawkeye Conference, while Pella Christian’s record now sits at 6-15 overall and 1-11 in conference. The Indians return to the diamond on Monday in a doubleheader against Class 4A #6 ranked Dallas Center-Grimes, with a chance to leapfrog the Mustangs in the conference standings. The Eagles also return to action on Monday with a league doubleheader at Grinnell.