A pair of pitching duels went the way of Pella Christian Wednesday night, as they swept Indianola in a doubleheader 3-2 and 4-2 with the second game broadcast live on 92.1 KRLS.
The Indians grabbed the early advantage in game one of the twinbill with a two-run bottom of the second inning and held that lead through the fourth. After being held hitless through the opening four frames, the Eagles’ offense finally broke through a three-run top of the fifth on three hits, a fielder’s choice and an error and held on the rest of the way for the 3-2 win. Pitching was the headline of game number one, with four pitchers between the two teams combining for 23 strikeouts. Corbin Westerkamp record nine of Pella Christian’s 11 punch outs to pick up the win, while Johnson Morgan’s two strikeouts helped him earn the save. Luke Rockhold suffered the loss for Indianola while striking out seven, and Bennett Brueck added the final five strikeouts to the Indians’ 12 in the game.
In the nightcap of the doubleheader, Indianola nabbed the early lead again with a run in the bottom of the first inning. The Indians lead held until the top of the fourth, as the Eagles took the lead with two runs on a single and a wild pitch. Following scoreless frames in the fifth and sixth innings, Pella Christian added key insurance runs in the top of the seventh on a Brecken Ritzert two-RBI single. Indianola wouldn’t go away easily as Caden Boyd’s RBI single in the bottom of the seventh pulled the Indians back within two, but the game-tying run was left stranded on first base with Eagles starter Lincoln Vander Molen’s fourth strikeout. Vander Molen worked around eight hits to allow just two runs (one earned) in the complete game win. Luke Byers allowed two unearned runs on two hits and three walks, while recording seven strikeouts as Indianola’s starter. Brueck recorded another two strikeouts in an inning of relief, while Kaden Ritchie took the loss by allowing two earned runs on three hits, a walk and two strikeouts.
Pella Christian improved to 7-2 on the season and 2-1 in the Little Hawkeye Conference, while Indianola dropped to 6-6 overall and 0-2 in the league. The Eagles are back in action tonight with a home game against Roland-Story at 7:30 p.m. The Indians also return to the diamond tonight with a home game against Urbandale at 7 p.m.