Both Pella’s baseball and softball teams returned to their respective diamonds at home Tuesday, only to be swept by Gilbert. The Dutch boys fell 7-2, while the girls dropped their contest 6-4.

The baseball team started with a 1-0 lead, and held that until the Tigers broke through in the top of the 5th for four runs. Errors were costly for the Dutch, as pitcher Samuel Carlson gave up just two earned runs out of the seven total, striking out five in 6 2/3rds innings. Isaiah Kettler went 2-for-4 with a double and Nathan Carey had an RBI and double as well.

A late rally wasn’t enough for the Dutch softball team, scoring all four of their runs in the final two innings. Elah Hiemstra went 2-for-4 with a double in the effort. Head Coach Katie Banowetz says their bats hit some tough luck, with several well struck balls hit right at defenders. Saige DeJong pitched four innings of scoreless relief as well.

The baseball team is now 4-2 overall, and the softball girls are 1-1; both head to Newton tonight to open Little Hawkeye Conference competition with a doubleheader, with varsity action beginning at 5:30 this evening.