In a high-scoring non-conference softball game on Panther Drive that saw a little bit of everything, Pella Christian stunned Knoxville for a comeback 10-7 victory heard live on 92.1 KRLS.

The Panthers took complete control of the game early on and appeared well on their way to a bounce back win. An Ashlyn Finarty line drive home run over the right field fence gave Knoxville a 2-0 first inning lead, and a Charlye Willis triple and five singles highlighted the lead growing to 6-0 in the bottom of the second. The Eagles cut the deficit to 6-2 in the top of the third when Emri and Amaia Agre scored on a Faith Kacmarynski double, and that score held until the fifth. The Panthers extended their lead back to five in the bottom of the fifth, when Marlea Cox scored on a pinch-hit RBI single from Kadince Wells, but Pella Christian battled back from a bases loaded no-out situation to get out of a jam.

Building off the momentum of their fifth-inning defensive success, the Eagles found new life in the top of the sixth. Emri Agre scored on a Kacmarynski single, before the bases became loaded and Claire Westerkamp cleared them with a game-altering grand slam. Pella Christian held Knoxville off the scoreboard in the bottom of the frame, and Kacmarynski came in clutch with a two-out two-RBI double to give the Eagles their first lead. Emma Eekhoff followed that with an RBI single and finished off the complete game win in the circle with a 1-2-3 inning in the bottom of the seventh. After the game, Westerkamp said her game-tying grand slam was a pleasant surprise and that she was glad to help the time in such a big spot.

“I honestly couldn’t believe I hit the ball that far, but I was happy to keep the energy going and bring some spark to the team.”

Pella Christian improved to 7-16 overall on the season with the win, while Knoxville dropped to 10-6 on the summer. The Eagles are back in Little Hawkeye Conference action tonight with a single home game against Class 4A #1 ranked Indianola. Coverage of the Pella Christian and Indians softball game can be heard live on 92.1 KRLS, with pregame schedule to begin at 7 p.m. The Knoxville softball squad returns to South Central Conference play tonight, hosting Davis County for a single game at 7:30 p.m.