The Pella Christian softball team played host to Indianola Monday evening in a Little Hawkeye Conference doubleheader. It was Indianola’s first road trip of the season, and the conference home opener for Pella Christian. The Class 5A #7-ranked Indians flexed their muscles in a doubleheader sweep, by scores of 6-0 and 5-0, as aired live on 92.1 KRLS.

Indianola started the game in the most ideal of ways, as junior Alley May sent the first pitch of the doubleheader over the right field fence for a leadoff home run, giving the Indians the early advantage. Indianola tacked on five more runs in the frame, taking a 6-0 lead in the first half inning.

That would prove to be the ultimate difference maker, as neither team was able to score the rest of the way. The Eagles didn’t have trouble getting runners aboard, but Pella Christian was unable to capitalize with runners in scoring position, including stranding runners on third multiple times.

That would be a recurring theme in game two. Indianola scored three runs in the top of the first, followed by one each in the second and fifth innings to secure the victory. Eagles coach Karen Harrill says that her team had its chances, but credits the Indians for their defensive performance.

“We knew they were going to be a solid team. Somebody doesn’t get ranked in Class 5A without being solid. We knew they were going to be solid. We also knew we needed our bats to come through, we needed to hit. There were so many innings where we would hit line drives, but it would be right at somebody. Multiple innings where it was three up three down, and it was all line drives. So it’s not like the kids weren’t hitting solidly, and again we did have some hits that weren’t very solid, but we hit pretty solid in multiple ways, but honestly, their pitching is just very, very good.”

Senior Chloe Morgan led the way with three base hits on the evening. Pitcher Cheyanne Collins went the distance in game one, while sophomores Trinity Vos and Alexa Dunsbergen split time in the circle in game two. Kassie Baker and Selia Becker each had multiple base hits for the Indians, while Kate Kralik and Kylee Tucker each pitched a complete game.

Indianola improves to 6-0 on the season, and returns to action Wednesday at Dallas Center-Grimes. Pella Christian drops to 2-4, and hits the road to Grinnell on Wednesday.