Two games that played out very differently both went the way of Norwalk Monday night, as they swept Pella Christian in a doubleheader on Eagle Lane 16-1 in five innings and 7-1 in eight innings, and the second game was heard live on the KRLS2 stream. 

In the opening game, the Warriors plated three runs in the first two innings, before tacking on nine runs in the third inning to build up a 12-0 lead. The Eagles added their lone run in the bottom of the fourth inning, before Norwalk added another four runs in the fifth inning to end the game via the run-rule. In the nightcap, Pella Christian got on the scoreboard first with a run in the bottom half of the first, and held that advantage until the Warriors tied the game at 1-1 in the top of the fourth. The tie in the second game held until the extra eighth inning, when Norwalk broke through for six runs and held the Eagles off the scoreboard to secure the win. The Warriors’ bats were the story of game one as they recorded 12 hits, nine walks, and 13 RBIs to plate their 16 runs. Leading the offensive effort for Norwalk in the opener was Colton Moore, who went 4-4 with two RBIs, two runs scored, and a walk. 

While the bats dominated game one, it was the pitching in the nightcap that stole the show. Briley Purcell got the start for the Warriors, going 1.1 innings while striking out three, allowing no hits, but issuing one run on four walks and a hit by pitch. Eli Benschoter came on in relief and earned the win after pitching 5.2 innings and recording 10 strikeouts while allowing just one hit and one walk. Colton Moore finished the game for Norwalk, allowing two walks and striking out one in the eighth inning. For Pella Christian, Grant Kelderman had another strong start on the mound in game two, striking out 11 in 5.1 innings while allowing one run on two hits and three hit by pitches. Eliot Menninga came on in relief of Kelderman and struck out three while allowing four runs on two hits, a walk, and a hit by pitch in two innings of work. Ben Van Wyngarden finished the game for the Eagles, recording the final two outs of the eighth including a strike out while allowing two runs on a hit and a walk.

The Warriors improved to 5-4 overall and 4-0 in the Little Hawkeye Conference with the sweep Monday night, while the Eagles fell to 1-6 overall and 0-5 in the conference. Both squads return to action tonight, with Norwalk hosting Grinnell at 7 pm and Pella Christian traveling to Centerville for a 7 pm game at Indian Hills Community College.