Pella Christian’s softball team used an explosive first inning and rode the power of Lizzy Van Manen’s bat to walk-off winners against Oskaloosa 6-5 at Eagle Lane.

Van Manen crushed a three-run home-run in the 1st inning to right center field to give the Eagles their first lead, which Ivy Terpstra extended later in that frame with a two-run single. All of the Eagle tallies came against all-state pitcher Alexis Groet, and all were earned.

Oskaloosa rallied back in the top of the 6th with a two-run home run and tied the contest on a wild-pitch by Emma Schnell.

Van Manen was due up first in the seventh, and hammered a 2-2 pitch over the centerfield wall to give the Eagles the victory. Van Manen tells KNIA/KRLS Sports her intention was not to leave the park with her approach, but says she was able to put a smooth swing on a good pitch.

Pella Christian moves to 13-2 and 7-1 to maintain their first place spot in the Little Hawkeye Conference. The Eagles travel to Knoxville tonight to take on the Panthers. Hear that game live on KNIA and KRLS, with first pitch at 7:30 p.m.

The Eagles baseball team fell to conference rival Oskaloosa after the Indians rallied for four runs in the top of the 7th inning to win 7-5.

Pella Christian led 4-3 in the back-and-forth contest with one out in the seventh when Osky connected on three hits in a row to take a 5-4 lead and tacked on two more insurance tallies with two outs.

The Eagles did all of their damage in the 2nd and 3rd innings, with Mac Sarver, Trevan Cadwell, Lawson Bruxvoort, and Cole Vande Voort each driving in a run.

PC falls to 9-8 and 5-5 in league play. They next host Pella for a doubleheader Friday, and you can hear game two live on 92.1 KRLS.