IRONWOOD — With runs in each of the first three innings, the Houghton Gremlins baseball team scored just enough to hold off the Ironwood Red Devils Monday afternoon, 3-2.

Two batters after Hudson Markham reached on a fielder’s choice, Henry Switzer reached on an error in the first inning to spark the Gremlins in the first inning. By running out his ground ball, the defensive error allowed Markham to score from third to give Houghton an early 1-0 lead.

Ironwood answered in the bottom half of the inning to tie things at 1-1.

In the top of the second, Kyle Primeau reached on a defensive error. The mistake gave him a chance to get to second before the play came to an end. Ethan Hainault then sacrificed to move Primeau to third. Primeau then scored on a passed ball with Rylan Isaacson at the plate to make it 2-1 Houghton.

In the third inning, the Gremlins were looking for a little breathing room, and they got it when Joel Durocher grounded into a fielder’s choice. With Primeau at the plate, Durocher stole second to get himself into a scoring position. Primeau then singled to left field, which gave Durocher time to score and extend the lead to two, 3-1.

The Red Devils got one back into the bottom of the fourth, but could not add another after that.

Latham Salmi went 3 2/3 innings on the mound for the Gremlins, striking out four and giving up four hits and two runs. Switzer came in and finished the game, walking two and giving up two hits over the game’s final 2 1/3 innings.

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Houghton returns to action Thursday when they travel to Marquette.