HOUGHTON — The Houghton Gremlins softball team was looking to build off of their performance in the Copper Bat on Wednesday, where they topped the Hancock Bulldogs. On Friday, they followed that win up with a win over the Gogebic Miners, then on Saturday, the Gremlins dropped the opener to the Lake Linden-Hubbell Lakes, 6-1, but bounced back with a 13-9 win in the nightcap.

In the opener against the Lakes, the Gremlins could only manage three hits against Lake Linden pitcher Emily Jokela. Jokela was outstanding for the Lakes, striking out 17 and giving up no walks in seven innings of work.

The two teams battled through three innings of scoreless softball before the Lakes got things going in the top of the fourth.

After third baseman Cleo Milkey flew out to lead off. The Gremlins chose to intentionally walk Jokela. Then they walked shortstop Payton Goldsworthy as well. First baseman Alli Corrigan then drew a walk, and the Lakes suddenly had the bases loaded. Catcher Kyara Mills flew out to right field, but Jokela scored on the play. Second baseman Hailey Crouch then singled to left field to bring Goldsworthy home and Lake Linden led 2-0.

In the top of the fifth, the Lakes were back at it. Left fielder Ella Schneiderhan reached on a defensive error to lead off. Right fielder Lissa Johnson singled to center field. Two batters later, Milkey walked to load the bases. Jokela singled to right field, scoring Schneiderhan and Johnson. Milkey scored on a steal of home. Jokela then stole home a few pitches later, and the Lakes led at that point 6-0.

The game remained that way into the bottom of the seventh inning.

With one out, first baseman Stella Soumis tripled to center field to spark the Gremlins. Soumis then scored on a wild pitch to get Houghton on the board with shortstop Kia Markham at the plate. Markham reached on an error, but two straight strikeouts ended the game.

Romi Mattson made the start in the pitcher’s circle for the Gremlins, going six innings, striking out nine, walking four and giving up six hits. Ellie Hainault pitched one inning in relief, striking out one and giving up one hit.

In the nightcap, the Gremlins turned to Soumis in the circle, and she went the distance, striking out five, walking two and giving up 14 hits, but she earned the win. She helped herself out at the plate, going 4-for-4 with five RBI and three runs scored. She hit one double in the game.

Goldsworthy got the start for the Lakes, going five innings, striking out six, walking two and giving up 10 hits. At the plate, she went 3-for-4 with three RBI and two runs scored.

Jokela pitched one inning in relief, striking out two, walking one and giving up two hits.

With two outs in the top of the first, the Lakes got a triple from Jokela, who hit a pop fly to center. She then came home on a wild pitch. Goldsworthy followed with a double to center. Corrigan brought her home with a single to right field and Lake Linden led 2-0.

In the top of the second, Crouch was hit by a pitch to start the inning. Two batters later, Johnson grounded out, but Crouch scored to make it 3-0.

Houghton needed a rally, and in the bottom half of the second, then had a big one.

Soumis led off with a single to right field. Markham struck out, but Soumis scored on an error to get the Gremlins on the board. Sophie Hebert walked. Catcher Lexi Burns doubled to center field, putting runners on the corners. Left fielder Emmy Pietila reached on an error, and while the ball was still live, both Hebert and Burns scored to even the game at 3-3.

Two batters later, Hainault singled to left field to knock Pietila home. Mattson then singled. Third baseman Kenzie Collard singled to center field to load the bases. Soumis doubled to right field to clear the bases and Houghton led 7-3.

Lake Linden got one run back in the top of the third. With one out, Jokela reached on an error. Goldsworthy then singled to short, scoring Jokela in the process.

The Lakes continued to chip away, getting another run in the fourth. Johnson had a one-out single. She was later tagged at home. Center fielder Ashlyn Steves followed her with a single to right field. Milkey singled to right field. Two batters later, Goldsworthy reached on an error and Steves scored.

In the bottom of the fourth, Houghton’s offense came through with a pair of runs.

Hainault led off with a walk. Three batters later, Soumis singled to center to bring Hainault home. Markham then singled, scoring Soumis after a defensive error, putting the Gremlins up 9-5.

The Lakes tied things up in the sixth. Johnson led off with a walk. Steves singled to left field. Two batters later, Jokela doubled to left field, scoring Johnson. Goldsworthy followed with a double to center, scoring both Steves and Jokela. Then Corrigan singled to center, scoring Goldsworthy.

With six outs left, the Gremlins went to work in the bottom of the sixth looking to regain their lead.

Hainault reached on an error to lead off. While the ball was still live, she raced around the bases and scored. Mattson then singled to right field. Two batters later, Soumis singled to center, scoring Mattson in the process. Soumis then scored on a wild pitch with Markham at the plate. Markham drew a walk and scored two batters later on a wild pitch, putting Houghton up by the four-run margin they needed to win.

Soumis has strong day against Miners

In the win over the Miners, Soumis went 2-for-3 at the plate with one RBI and two runs scored. She also pitched seven innings, striking out six, walking three and giving up six hits to earn the win.

Hainault was also strong, going 3-for-5 with one run scored.

Hainault led off with a double to right field to start the game. Mattson drew a walk. Hainault scored on a passed ball with Collard at the plate. Collard then grounded out, but Mattson scored to make it 2-0.

Gogebic got one back in the bottom half of the inning, and the game stayed 2-1 for Houghton until the third.

Collard drew a one-out walk. Soumis singled to right field to score Collard and the Gremlins led at that point 3-1.

The Miners got a run back in the bottom half of the fourth to cut Houghton’s lead in half.

In the top of the fifth, Hainault singled to lead off. Mattson then hit an inside-the-park home run, but not before Hainault was caught trying to steal second. Two batters later, Soumis tripled to center. Markham then singled to left field to score Soumis and give the Gremlins a 5-2 advantage.

In the sixth, Burns led off with a walk. Pietila then singled, but Burns was thrown out trying for home. Jacey Sleeman grounded out, but Pietila scored to make it 6-2 Houghton.

Gogebic got another run back in the bottom of the sixth, but that was as close as they got.

In the seventh, Collard led off with a walk. Soumis then walked. After Markham laid down a sacrifice bunt, the runners were in scoring position with Skye Isaacson at the plate. She singled, scoring Collard.

Burn then singled to second to score Soumis. Two batters later, Sleeman reached on an error, scoring Isaacson on the play.