Tyler Hillman threw six-and-two thirds innings as the Pella baseball team salvaged a doubleheader split last night at home against Oskaloosa, losing 2-1 before winning 2-1. The defending state champion Indians beat the Pella softball team 3-1, 14-4.

Hillman, the senior all-stater, struck out eight and scattered four hits while walking two and allowing one run. The Little Dutch scored in the third when a Joel Ruiter groundout brought home Kaden Miedema, and the eventual game winner came across in the sixth when Noah Van Vark’s single plated Tanner Dusbergen.

In game one, the Indians rallied with two seventh inning runs for the victory. Pella took the lead in the fourth when Jaden Rolffs ripped a double to right center to bring in Hillman.

Oskaloosa threatened in the sixth, but Avery Van Zee’s diving catch started an inning ending double play. One inning later, the Indians scored on a hit-by-pitch with the bases loaded and a sacrifice fly.

Ben Akers took the tough luck loss, giving up two runs on seven hits with three strikeouts in the complete game effort.

In game one on the softball diamond, Oskaloosa broke a scoreless tie with four straight two out hits to score three runs in the fourth. The Lady Dutch dotted the scoreboard in the sixth on a Destiny Brown RBI single, and while they got runners to second and third with one out in the seventh, Pella came up empty and suffered the defeat.

Oskaloosa took control in game two with a nine run second inning that saw 14 batters come to the plate. The Indians belted two home runs in the frame, including a grand slam. Ally Almond had a pair of RBI singles in the game for Pella.

The Lady Dutch drop to 5-26 on the year and 2-16 in the Little Hawkeye Conference. They’ll host North Mahaska tonight. Pella’s baseball team is 14-12, an even 9-9 in the LHC, and they’ll play at PCM this evening. You can hear that game between the Little Dutch and the Mustangs with Trevor Castle on the call on our KNIA3 stream at www.kniakrls.com, with first pitch scheduled for 7:30.

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