ISHPEMING — The Calumet Copper Kings softball team earned a split on the road Tuesday as they battled the Westwood Patriots. In the opener, the Copper Kings won, 13-3, but the Patriots bounced back in the nightcap with an 8-6 victory.

In the opener, the Copper Kings needed just five innings to earn the win the conference matchup.

Left fielder Bethany Garrow had a big game, collecting three hits in four plate appearances. She knocked in a pair of runs and scored twice herself. She racked up a triple in the third inning and had a pair of singles as well.

Garrow got things started by leading off the first inning with a single to center field. After shortstop Molly Erkkila walked, pitcher Lena Myhren grounded into a fielder’s choice, and Garrow was tagged headed for third.

However, with two still on, catcher Isabella Coppo drew a walk to load the bases. First baseman Chloe Coppo then followed with a single to center field, knocking in Erkkila and Myhren. Claire Ruonavaara then singled to left field. Third baseman Kaydence Christopherson grounded into a fielder’s choice with Isabella Coppo scoring on the play. Right fielder Jaysa Wilks then followed that up by reaching on an error with Ruonavaara scoring to put Calumet up 4-0 at that point.

Ruonavaara helped spark the Copper Kings to extend their lead in the third inning by reaching on an error to lead off. She was tagged when Christopherson flew into a fielder’s choice. Two batters later, Wilks singled to left field. Two batters after that, Garrow’s triple brought home Christopherson and Wilks.

Erkkila then singled to third, scoring Garrow and the Copper Kings were up 7-0 at that point.

In the fourth, Chloe Coppo got things started with a one-out single to left field. Ruonavaara reached on an error. Christopherson reached on a grounder to short, loading the bases. Wilks hit a sacrifice fly, and reached on an error, scoring Coppo. Ruonavaara then scored as second baseman Millie Looks then popped out. Garrow singled to right field, but reached third on an error. During the play, Christopherson and Wilks scored, and then Garrow got home on another error before the play finally came to an end.

The Patriots got three runs back in the bottom half of the fourth, but that was as close as they got.

In the top of the fifth, the Copper Kings added one more run. Myhren doubled to left to lead off. Three batters later, Ruonavaara reached on an error and Myhren scored on the same play.

Myhren earned the win for the Copper Kings. The righty gave up five hits and three runs, zero earned, over five innings, striking out four and walking none.

Despite Isabella Coppo going 3-for-4 with two RBI and one run scored in the nightcap, the Copper Kings could not find at least two runs to tie the game over the final two innings in the loss.

Calumet got started quickly by getting a walk by Chloe Coppo to lead off the top of the first. After Erkkila hit into a fielder’s choice and reached first, Myhren walked. Isabella Coppo Singled to center field, scoring Erkkila. Wilks then followed with a single to center field and scored Myhren.

The Patriots got a run back in the bottom half of the inning. They added another in the second and one more in the the third to take a 3-2 lead.

In the top of the fourth, Calumet’s offense got going again. Garrow led off with a triple to center. Looks then singled to third, scoring Garrow. Two batters later, Isabella Coppo doubled to right field, knocking Loukus home, and giving the Copper Kings the lead, 4-3. Then, Wilks walked, Christopherson singled to third, and suddenly Calumet had the bases loaded. Two batters later, Amiina Tarnowski singled to center field, scoring Coppo and Wilks.

That was all the Copper Kings could manage, however. Westwood got oner un back in the bottom half of the fourth and then struck four times in the bottom half of the fifth to pull ahead for good.

Kaylee Newsom took the loss for the Copper Kings. The starter went five innings, allowing eight runs, six earned on 11 hits, striking out three and walking three. Myhren pitched one inning in relief, striking out one and giving up one hit.

Up Next

The Copper Kings will travel to face L’Anse on Friday at 4 p.m.