Houghton’s Ellie Hainault runs towards first base in a game against Hurley during the Copper Country Softball Invite Saturday at the Hancock Driving Park. (Daver Karnosky/Daily Mining Gazette)

HOUGHTON — With 29 runs scored over two games, the Houghton Gremlins softball team took advantage of several opportunities to score runs in a pair of wins Monday afternoon over the Calumet Copper Kings at Houghton Field. The Gremlins won the opener, 11-5, and then the nightcap, 18-12.

In the opener, seven different Gremlins had at least one hit, with six having multiple hits. Stella Soumis had three RBI to lead the scoring.

“Stella’s a senior,” said Gremlins coach Mel Baker. “She’s starting out strong. She’s got the confidence she needs as a senior, and I can’t wait to see how her whole year goes.”

In total, Houghton had 17 hits.

After a scoreless top of the first inning, the Gremlins got going quickly in the bottom half.

Ellie Hainault singled to center to lead off. Romi Mattson singled to left. Kenzie Collard then doubled. Hainault tried for home and was thrown out, but a defensive error allowed Mattson to score. Soumis then doubled to center field, scoring Collard.

Kia Markham then singled to center field, which brought Soumis home and gave the hosts a 3-0 lead.

Looking to respond, the Copper Kings did not wait long. Jaysa Wilks go on base with a one-out single. Kaylee Newsom then singled. Wilks was caught off the base at second, but a triple by Amiina Tarnowski scored Newsom. Bethany Garrow then singled to center field, bringing Tarnowski home.

Houghton wanted to get something back, and they did in the bottom half of the inning. Lexi Burns doubled to lead off. Emmy Pietila singled to left field to score Burns. Two batters later, Mattson grounded out, but Pietila scored on the play and the Gremlins led 5-2 at that point.

In the bottom of the fourth, Houghton added to their advantage. With one out, Burns doubled to right field. Two batters later, Hainault singled to center, scoring Burns. Mattson then tripled to center, scoring Hainault.

Collard followed up with a double to score Mattson. Soumis then doubled to center field, helping Collard score and Houghton led at that point, 9-2.

In the top of the fifth, Calumet needed an answer. Chloe Coppo singled with one away. Kaydence Christopherson singled, putting two runners on base. Two batters later, Wilks tripled, scoring both runners.

In the sixth, the Gremlins led 9-4 when Mattson connected with a one-out double. With Collard at the plate, Mattson was caught trying for third. Collard then singled and scored when Soumis tripled to center field. Markham singled to drive Soumis home and putting her team up 11-4.

In the top of the seventh, the Copper Kings started to rally right off the bat as Myhren singled to lead off. Two batters later, Christopherson popped out, but Myhren scored on the play. Clare Ruonavaara then singled, but Wilks struck out to end the threat.

Soumis went all seven innings for the Gremlins, striking out six, but giving up 15 hits.

Myhren struck out five, but surrendered 17 hits in the loss for Calumet.

In the second game, the Copper Kings jumped out to an early lead, but the Gremlins managed to score in every inning, including six in the fifth, to come away with another win.

Calumet jumped out quickly as Garrow singled to lead off. Mollie Erkkila then singled, scoring Garrow in the process. Myhren then singled. Coppo popped out, but both runners advanced anyway. Christopherson then grounded out, but Erkkila scored. Ruonavaara then brought Myhren home with a single to center field.

With one out in the bottom of the first, Mattson drew a walk. Collard then singled, scoring Mattson. After Soumis singled, Markham popped out, but Collard scored on the sacrifice, making it 3-2 in favor of Calumet.

In the bottom of the second, Reagan Moyle led off with a walk for Houghton. Burns tripled to score Moyle and tie things at 3-3. Pietila then doubled to right field, which scored Burns. Two batters later, Mattson reached first on a dropped third strike, and Pietila scored on the play, putting the Gremlins ahead 5-3.

Calumet answered quickly in the top of the third as Coppo singled to lead off. Two batters later, Ruonavaara singled to center to score Coppo.

With one out in the bottom half of the inning, Josie Switzer doubled to left field. Two batters later, Burns doubled to score Switzer and make it 6-4 Houghton.

Garrow drew a lead off walk in the top of the fourth. Erkkila was then hit by a pitch. Myhren drilled a ball to the right field fence and completed an inside-the-park home run, and just like that, Calumet led 7-6.

The lead was short-lived as Hainault led the bottom of the inning with a single to center field. Mattson followed with a single and Hainault scored. Soumis flew out to center field, but Mattson scored on the play. Markham reached on a defensive error. Switzer then singled to left field, scoring Markham, and suddenly the Gremlins led 9-7.

In the bottom of the fifth, Burns led off with a single. Jacey Sleeman was brought in to run for Burns. Three batters later, Mattson tripled to center field, scoring Sleeman. Collard then singled to bring Mattson home.

Leading 11-7, Houghton’s inning continued. Soumis walked. After a pitching change from Newsom to Danni Stites, Markham walked, loading the bases. Switzer drew a walk to score Collard. Moyle then singled to score Soumis and Markham. Switzer then scored on a passed ball with Burns at the plate. Burns then walked. Pietila drew a walk as well, but Hainault flew out to end the inning with Houghton ahead 15-7.

In the top of the sixth, Calumet needed a spark and got it from Myhren, who doubled to left field. Coppo followed with a two-run home run to right field.

Houghton went to work in the bottom half of the inning to answer, and did so quickly. Mattson reached on an error. Collard then walked. Soumis doubled to left field to bring in both runners. Markham then singled to left field. Switzer walked. Two batters later, Burns reached on an error and Markham scored on the play to make it 18-9 in favor of the Gremlins.

Stites led off the top of the seventh by getting hit by a pitch. Two batters later, Garrow walked, with Myhren following two batters after that to load the bases. Coppo reached on a defensive error, scoring all three baserunners. Christopherson then singled, but Ruonavaara grounded out to end the game.

Moyle got the start for Houghton, going three innings, striking out two and giving up nine hits. Mattson finished the game, going four innings, striking out five, walking four, and giving up five hits.

Newsom got the start for the Copper Kings. She went four innings with five strikeouts, two walks and nine hits. Stites threw one inning, striking out one and giving up five walks and four hits. Wilks finished the game, going one inning, striking out one, walking two and giving up two hits.