The Indianola softball team hit three grand slams in their doubleheader sweep over Newton Wednesday, winning 16-1 in game one and 17-3 in game two. Game one saw the Indians score five in the first inning off of RBI hits from Brynn Ortlund, Jordyn Gripp, Dana Blake, and Kyra Robins, then added two more in the third on a passed ball and an RBI double by Izzy Sloan, before the offense caught fire in the fourth scoring nine runs, highlighted by an inside-the-park grand slam by Ortlund as the game ended in the fourth.

Game two saw the Cardinals jump out to a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the first, only to see the Indians score 17 unanswered. The long ball was used often, as Robins hit a solo homer, Tessa Gripp added a grand slam, and Blake hit a two-run shot all in the second. Another strong fourth inning included an RBI double from Kiley Kindelspire, who then added the third and final grand slam in the fifth and the game ended early.

Head coach Stacy Evans credits the team for having great at-bats all night long.

“Credit to the girls, they were patient at the plate. A couple of games there we were not as patient, we didn’t get as many hits. So they were just extremely hungry. But at the same time, being hungry and patient at the plate, you have to take your strides up there. They went through three pitchers, and I think thats the biggest credit, we balanced ourselves at the plate.”

Indianola is now 17-6 overall and 10-1 in conference play.

The Indianola baseball team defeated Newton 8-0 in game one and 8-4 in game two as they continued their fight at the top of the Little Hawkeye Conference. The Indians got another strong start from Luke Byers who went 4.1 innings only giving up two hits as Indianola scored only one run in the first five innings, but added seven insurance runs in the final two innings to get the win. Gage Sinn got three hits and two RBI to lead the team. Game two had the Indians score first to take a 2-0 lead, but Newton got their only runs in the bottom of the inning to lead 4-2. That score held until the fifth, when the Indians answered with four of their own, then added two more in the sixth. Daniel Kuebler got the win, while Andrew DeWall had three hits and Cooper Belt drove in five. The Indians are now 16-7 and 8-3.

Both teams take today off before traveling to Pella Christian on Friday.