HOUGHTON — Looking to build off of some strong play against the Negaunee Miners on Monday, the Houghton Gremlins had a strong day Tuesday, outscoring the Ishpeming Hematites, 17-3 and 12-2, in a doubleheader at the Houghton High School Field.

In the opener, Josie Switzer went 3-for-3 with two RBI and a run scored to help drive the Gremlins’ offense. Third baseman Ellie Hainault, center fielder Romi Mattson, pitcher Stella Soumis, and left fielder Emmy Pietila all had two hits each. Hainault’s two hits were a triple and a home run.

In the bottom of the first inning, Hainault got her triple on a line drive to center field. Mattson followed with a fly out to left, but Hainault scored on the play. Right fielder Kenzie Collard then reached on an error. Soumis singled to right field, scoring Collard. Shortstop Kia Markham walked. First baseman Reagan Moyle singled to left, scoring Markham and Soumis. Houghton led 4-0 at that point.

The inning continued as Switzer singled to center. Catcher Lexi Burns reached on an error, which allowed Switzer and Moyle to both score. Pietila then walked, but not before Burns scored on a wild pitch. Hainault then hit an inside-the-park home run to center field, scoring Pietila, and the Gremlins led 9-0.

Two batters later, Collard tripled to left field. Soumis followed with a double to right field, scoring Collard. Markham singled to center. Moyle reached on an error, scoring both Soumis and Markham. Houghton led 12-0.

Switzer singled to center, but Burns hit into a fielder’s choice to end the inning.

It took just four batters for the Hematites to get three runs back, but that was as close as they got in the game.

In the bottom of the second, Houghton went back to work. Pietila singled to lead off. Hainault flew out to center, but Pietila scored. Mattson then tripled to left. She scored on a wild pitch with Collard at the plate. Collard and Soumis both walked. Markham reached on a fielder’s choice, but the bases became loaded for the Gremlins. Two batters later, Switzer singled to left field, scoring both Collard and Soumis and making the score 16-3 Gremlins.

In the bottom of the third, the Gremlins got another run. Pietila led off with a single to center. Two batters later, Mattson singled to left field. Collard then reached on an error, scoring Pietila.

Soumis pitched three innings to earn the win, striking out six, walking none, and giving up just four hits.

In the nightcap, the Gremlins got multiple hits from Moyle and Burns. Eight of nine batters had at least one hit.

Hainault led off the bottom of the first with a single to left field. Two batters later, Collard singled to left, scoring Hainault. Two batters after that, Markham doubled to left field, scoring Collard. Moyle then brought Markham home with a single. Houghton led 3-0 at that point.

Ishpeming got two runs back in the top of the second.

With one out in the bottom of the second, Pietila singled. Hainault drew a walk. Mattson reached after hitting into a fielder’s choice. Collard reached on an error, scoring Hainault. Soumis then singled to right field, scoring Mattson and Collard and the Gremlins led 6-2 at that point.

In the bottom of the third, Houghton continued to string things together. Switzer tripled to center with one out. Burns then singled, scoring Switzer. Pietila walked. Hainault reached after hitting into a fielder’s choice where all three runners remained safe. Mattson then walked, scoring Burns. Two batters later, Pietila scored on a passed ball and Hainault scored by stealing home, all while Soumis was up to bat. She flew out to end the inning, but Houghton led at that point, 10-2.

In the fourth, Moyle singled to center. Two batters later, Burns tripled to center, scoring Moyle. Burns then scored on a passed ball with Pietila at the plate. The Gremlins led after the inning ended, 12-2.

The Hematites got runners on in the top of the fifth, but two straight fly outs ended the game.

Moyle got the win, pitching five innings. She struck out two, walked three, and gave up five hits in the game.