PELLA, Iowa --- Softball traveled to No. 23 Central College on Tuesday, Apr. 21, where the Knights took both games against the Dutch with a 10-4 win in game one before defeating Central 5-4 in game two.
 
Wartburg moves to 9-1 in American Rivers Conference (A-R-C) play this season and the Knights are now 24-8 overall. The Knights have now won seven straight-games and have four wins over top 25 opponents this season.
 
Game Summary

• Game One
  • Second Inning
    • The score remained 0-0 after two innings as Hannah Hoefer and the Knights defense allowed just one hit
  • Third Inning
    • Stephanie Kiefer's walk was the only Wartburg base runner of the two first innings before Alexis Larson reached base by an error in the third
      • Ally Happ moved Larson to second with a sacrifice bunt before Larson stole third, but Central escaped the jam to keep the game scoreless
    • In the bottom half, Central was the first team on the scoreboard after two singles led to two runs scored for the Dutch to take a 2-0 lead into the final three innings
  • Fifth Inning
    • After a scoreless fourth inning from both sides, the Knights broke the game open with an eight-run top of the fifth inning that put Wartburg in front 8-2
      • The Knights used four-straight walks to bring home Liz Kruckenberg and then a fielders choice from Reagan Hassel brought home Larson to tie the game 2-2
      • Jenna Wiebenga drew a walk that scored Happ before Kiefer stepped the plate and delivered a bases-clearing double to the right center field warning track that put the Knights ahead 6-2
      • Wartburg used four more walks to bring home both Kiefer and Kruckenberg after RBI walks from Rylie Metz and Carley Bredar to push the Wartburg lead to 8-2 after five innings
  • Sixth Inning
    • The Knights brought two more runs across in the sixth inning to give the Knights a 10-2 lead headed into the bottom of the sixth
      • The Knights first run came after back-to-back doubles from Bella Mulder and Kiefer
      • Larson singled through the left side of the infield to score Kiefer and give the Knights an eight-run lead
    • Central stayed alive in the bottom half of the inning with a solo shot home run that made the score 10-3
  • Seventh Inning
    • Lauren Dyer and Katelyn Klever closed the final two innings in the circle as the Knights took game one 10-4
• Game Two
  • First Inning
    • Hassel doubled to left center field and then was brought home by an Addy Wells single that made the score 1-0 headed to the bottom of the first
    • Klever and the Knights defense began the game with a one-two-three bottom of the first inning
  • Third Inning
    • The Knights added three more runs from two hits in the third to make the score 4-0
      • Bredar got the inning started with a walk and a steal before Wiebenga was intentionally walked to put two runners on base
      • Klever cleared the bases with a double to left center field and then stole third to set up an RBI double from Kiefer to push the Wartburg lead to four
  • Fourth Inning
    • Central recorded its first hit of the game in the fourth inning, but the Knights allowed now runs and the score remained 4-0
  • Fifth Inning
    • Mulder added an insurance run in the fifth inning with a solo home run over the left field wall to push the lead to 5-0
    • Central's offense used four hits to score four runs in the bottom half of the fifth to bring the score to 5-4
  • Sixth Inning
    • Both Bredar and Hassel singled in back-to-back at bats, but Central was able to keep the Knights off the scoreboard to keep the score at 5-4
    • Klever and the Wartburg defense kept Central off the scoreboard in the bottom half to send the game to the seventh inning
  • Seventh Inning
    • Hoefer moved inside the circle for the final inning and worked around a leadoff walk to put away the next three batters to secure a 5-4 win for the Knights

 
Top Performers

• Game One
  • Stephanie Kiefer
    • 2/3 at the plate
    • Four RBI
    • Two runs scored
    • Walk
  • Hannah Hoefer
    • 5.0 IP
    • Win
    • Three strikeouts
    • Three earned runs allowed
  • Alexis Larson
    • 1/2 at the plate
    • RBI
    • Run scored
    • Two walks
• Game Two
  • Katelyn Klever
    • 6.0 IP
    • Win
    • Five strikeouts
    • Four runs allowed
    • 1/4 at the plate
    • Two RBI
    • Stolen base
  • Reagan Hassel
    • 2/4 at the plate
    • Double
    • Run Scored
  • Bella Mulder
    • 1/2 at the plate
    • HR
    • RBI
    • Two walks

 
Notes/Streaks

• Snapped five-game losing streak to Central
  • First win since 2023
  • First win/sweep in Pella since 2021
• Program record 12 walks drawn in game one
• Seventh-straight wins for Wartburg
  • Won nine of the last 10 games
• Career-high in RBI for Kiefer (four)
• First career save for Hoefer
  • Third Wartburg save of the season
• Fifth home run of the season for Mulder
  • Seventh career home run
• Nine different Knights recorded an RBI today

 
Next Time Out
The Knights will be back in action on Saturday, Apr. 25 on the road against the University of Dubuque beginning at 1 p.m.