The Pella softball team stumbled in the opener of their own tournament on Saturday before coming back in a big way in game two.  
Facing a fellow Marion County school, Class 1-A Twin Cedars in the first game, the Lady Dutch found themselves unable to capitalize on scoring opportunities for themselves, while allowing the Sabers to benefit from four errors in a 3-2 loss.  
Starting pitcher Mandy DeMeulenare allowed six hits and walked one Twin Cedars batter while striking out three, but the errors translated to all three runs given up being unearned.  At the plate, the Lady Dutch rattled off eight hits, led by Bri Arkema, who had two.  
The loss to Twin Cedars must have gotten the attention of the Lady Dutch, though, as they responded with a 14-4 thumping of Saydel in the second game.  Pella slapped around a jaw-dropping 22 hits in support of starting pitcher Bri Arkema, who allowed just 7 hits and 3 walks, while striking out two Saydel batters.  
Pella’s potent offense was led by Whitney Williams, Lisa Houser and Mandy DeMeuelenaere, who all went 4-for-4 at the plate in the win.  DeMeulenaere tallied 6 RBIs, and Williams made her presence known on the base paths; stealing five bases against Saydel to finish the day with six total.  
With the split at the Pella Invitational, the Lady Dutch softball team is now 7-4 overall and will take on cross-town rival Pella Christian in a clash of Little Hawkeye Conference leaders on Monday.