Houghton left fielder Emmy Pietila prepares to make a throw during the first game of a doubleheader against Hancock Tuesday at the Hancock Driving Park. (Daver Karnosky/Daily Mining Gazette)

HANCOCK — The Hancock Bulldogs softball team knows one thing, every team they face is going to bring their best effort every game. The Bulldogs have had a lot of success over the last several seasons, and that leads to teams wanting to be the one that topples them.

Tuesday afternoon, it was the Houghton Gremlins’ turn at the Hancock Driving Park. Trailing 6-2 in the opener, the Gremlins stormed back with five runs in the top of the seventh to come away with a 7-6 win. In the nightcap, the Bulldogs again jumped out to a big lead, this time 11-2 after two innings, and then held off the Gremlins late to win, 11-8.

For the Bulldogs, who nearly gave away both games on Monday against the Calumet Copper Kings, giving away the opener again was another learning moment in a season full of them.

“I thought we played a great game for the first six innings, and then it’s, for whatever reason, this is kind of in the story of our season so far,” said Bulldogs coach Craig Biekkola. “We make a mistake, and we can’t find our way out of it. It just snowballs, and rather than just giving up a run or maybe two, it turns into six.

“Credit to Houghton, too. They got some timely hits, but like I said, it’s just a shame to play as well as we did and not come away with the win.”

For the Gremlins, that switch in the top of the seventh happened very quickly.

“It happened really fast,” said Gremlins coach Mel Baker. “It’s kind of a blur to me, but the girls found a hit by hit, and we just somehow made something out of a couple little hits and an error or two. We capitalized on it.”

For Houghton, knocking off the Bulldogs is a good measuring stick.

“It’s always fun to play Hancock,” Baker said. “They always have good competition, and it was good. First game, we came through and got the conference win. Second game, I was hoping we would come through again, but no such luck.”

Trailing 6-2 in the top of the seventh in the opener, Houghton needed a spark. Catcher Lexi Burns led off with a pop fly that center fielder Vaeda Brooks misplayed, which allowed Burns to get to second safely. Left fielder Emmy Pietila then drew a walk. Second baseman Ellie Hainault singled, which scored Burns from second. Center fielder Romi Mattson then singled to center. Two batters later, pitcher Stella Soumis hit a home run to center field and suddenly the game was tied, 6-6.

With the inning continuing, shortstop Kia Markham singled to left field. First baseman Reagan Moyle doubled to left on a ball that just dropped inside the left field line, and Markham scored to give Houghton the lead.

In all, Mattson, Soumis, and Moyle all collected two hits each off Hancock pitcher Sadie Biekkola.

The Gremlins jumped out to an early lead to start the game. After Hainault was caught stealing second, Mattson stepped back into the batter’s box. On the next pitch, Mattson launched a ball over the left field fence.

The game remained 1-0 Houghton until the bottom of the second. Sadie Biekkola hit a ground ball that should have been routine, but an error allowed her to reach first safely. Before the play came to an end, she found herself at third. Second baseman Lucy Biekkola popped out, but her older sister scored anyway.

The game remained 1-1 until the bottom of the third when right fielder Emily L’Esperance put the Bulldogs up by one with a solo home run over the left field fence. It was her second home run of the season.

“We didn’t know what we were getting, because she had played previously, but it’s been a few years,” said Craig Biekkola when asked about L’Esperance. “We knew that she was a good athlete from all the other sports that she’s involved in. But, now she’s hitting the ball and she’s not over-swinging. She’s making contact, and she’s been making good contact. She’s hitting the ball hard, and she’s been rewarded for it.”

The inning continued with designated hitter Diem Kilpela singling to short. Left fielder Sofie Freeman doubled to center. Two batters later, catcher Brooke Koskela hit a bases-clearing single and Hancock led at that point, 4-1.

In the fourth, L’Esperance doubled to left field to lead off. Kilpela then doubled to center, scoring L’Esperance.

Sadie Biekkola led off the fifth with a solo home run to left field. The Bulldogs led 6-1 at that point.

Houghton got one run back in the top of the sixth. Soumis doubled to right field. She was replaced on the basepaths by Jacey Sleeman. Two batters later, Moyle doubled to right field, scoring Sleeman.

Soumis went seven innings in the circle for the Gremlins, striking out eight, walking three, and surrendering eight hits.

Sadie Biekkola went seven innings for the Bulldogs, striking out three, walking four, and giving up 10 hits.

In the nightcap, Hancock jumped out quickly. It started with Chloe Bastian drawing a walk. Three batters later, Romey Koskela reached on an error. Third baseman Kaelyn Rouleau grounded into a double play, but Bastian scored before the play was finished.

Houghton wanted to answer quickly, and they did in the top of the second. Soumis singled to center field. Markham doubled to left field. Josie Switzer then grounded out, but Soumis scored on the play. Then Burns singled to center field, scoring Markham, and the Gremlins led 2-1.

That advantage was very short-lived, however, as the Bulldogs stormed back in a big way.

Kilpela walked. Left fielder Tatum Sporalski was hit by a pitch. Two batters later, center fielder Mallory Sporalski singled to center field, loading the bases. Right fielder Tia Pelto walked, scoring Kilpela. Bastian then singled to left field, scoring Tatum Sporalski. Lucy Biekkola singled to left field to bring Mallory Sporalski home. Romey Koskela then singled to left field to score Pelto.

Rouleau singled to center field, knocking in Bastian and Biekkola. Kilpela singled to center field to score Koskela. Two batters later, Brooke Koskela doubled to right field to score Kilpela after Tatum Sporalski walked. Mallory Sporalski then singled again, this time to left field, scoring her younger sister and putting the Bulldogs up 11-2.

Houghton then slowly started chipping away.

In the top of the third, Mattson reached on an error, and scored two batters later on a Soumis sacrifice fly. In the fourth, Moyle walked, Switzer singled, and Burns reached on a dropped third strike. On that same play, Moyle scored. Pietila then grounded out, but Switzer scored. Then Hainault grounded out, but Burns scored, and suddenly Houghton trailed 11-6.

In the top of the sixth, Houghton threatened again. Switzer reached on an error to lead off. Three batters later, she scored on an error that allowed Hainault to reach first.

The Gremlins shaved another run off the lead in the top of the seventh. With one out, Soumis doubled to left field. Markham reached on an error, and Soumis scored before the play ended. Markham also worked her way to third on the play. She was caught looking to steal home, which meant that the Gremlins had only one out left to work with. Switzer popped out, however, ending the game.

Mattson threw four innings in the loss, striking out one, walking four, and giving up 11 hits. Baker was proud of how she answered the big inning by the Bulldogs over the next two innings.

“It was not an easy moment, and I think it was hard on her,” Baker said. “But, she was able to fight through it, and she did a good job. I was proud of her for coming back after that tough inning.”

Moyle pitched two innings in relief, striking out one and giving up four hits.

Lucy Biekkola went seven innings to earn the win for the Bulldogs, striking out seven, walking two and giving up six hits. She had a scary moment where she took a line drive off her knee, but fought through that and finished strong.

“She’s a tough kid,” said Craig Biekkola. “She’s not one who says a lot, speaks a lot, but she’s tough. When I went out to ask how she was doing, she said she was fine. So, I mean, if she wasn’t, she would have let me know. But, it was good for her to finish that game, and, I guess, kind of had to struggle through the last couple innings. Hopefully, again, that’s a good lesson for her.”

Up Next

Houghton is off until Saturday when they travel to play in Escanaba. The Bulldogs are back in action Thursday at home against Ishpeming before they head to Escanaba on Saturday.

Hancock right fielder Emily L’Esperance follows through on a home run during the first game of a doubleheader against Houghton Tuesday at the Hancock Driving Park. (Daver Karnosky/Daily Mining Gazette)