On a record-breaking cold night for high school baseball in May, Pella and Knoxville clashed in a tight seven-inning contest, with the Dutch walking-off 4-3 winners in the Red Rock Rivalry, as heard live on KNIA/KRLS Friday.

Pella opened with a 1-0 lead in the first inning and stretched it 2-0 after three, with Keagan Miedema allowing just one hit in those nine outs. The Panthers took advantage of a wild-pitch third strike to get three more base runners and their first tally in the 4th. The Dutch responded with another RBI hit in the 4th, and the Panthers took advantage of two Dutch errors and two hits to make it 3-2 into the bottom of the 5th. Knoxville Reliever Carson Uitermarkt set six Dutch batters down in a row, and in the top of the 7th, Knoxville’s Mike Hudson had the game-tying base hit, scoring Dakota Ramsey.

In the bottom of the inning, baserunners Nick DeJong and Jason Knox both got on with nobody out, and after the senior advanced to 3rd on a wild pitch, forced the Panthers defense in, and following a two-strike at-bat battle, Keegan Hansen ripped a ground ball passed the infield to earn Pella’s second victory of the young season.

Miedema had a no decision after 6 2/3 innings with one run and five strikeouts for Pella.

Knoxville is 3-3 overall and heads to Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont on Thursday, June 3rd, while the Dutch are 2-2 and travel to Gilbert Tuesday.