Hits were hard to come by for the Pella High softball team Monday night, but the Lady Dutch proved they could still beat a good team without much success at the plate; toppling Norwalk 3-2 in 8 innings in the regular season finale.

Pella’s Allie DeMeulenaere had one of only two hits on the night for the Lady Dutch, but reached base on an error in the bottom of the 8th inning and was able to make it all the way to third base. With the pressure on, Norwalk granted intentional walks to Pella’s next two hitters, hoping to work themselves out of the jam. Instead, a patient at bat by Bri Arkema saw the junior pitcher take ball four, and DeMeulenaere was walked home as the game-winning run.

Arkema was outstanding for the Lady Dutch, belting a two-run homerun in the 4th inning to give Pella the lead, and allowing just five hits, two walks and a hit batter from the pitching circle; while striking out five Norwalk hitters.

The victory puts the Pella High softball team in a tie with Newton for second place in the Little Hawkeye Conference at 8-4. Norwalk splits the league crown with Oskaloosa at 9-3. The Lady Dutch are 19-10 overall, and have now won five games in a row, entering Thursday night’s Class 4A Regional Tournament opener in Oskaloosa.