L’ANSE — The Jeffers Jets and L’Anse Purple Hornets softball teams split a pair of games Wednesday in L’Anse. In the opener, the Purple Hornets won the opener 11-1, and the Jets came back to win the nightcap, 17-16.

In the opener, Sylia Allen had two hits, one RBI and two runs scored to drive the Purple Hornets’ offense. One of the two hits was a triple.

Kailyn Voskuhl earned the win, striking out two, walking seven, and giving up just one hit in five innings in the pitcher’s circle. She also scored a run.

In the bottom of the first inning, Lindsay Biekkola sparked the L’Anse offense by walking with one out. Lola Cichosz followed by reaching on an error, putting runners on the corners. Allen then reached on an error, scoring Biekkola. Tori Ahola then sacrificed to score Cichosz. Allen scored on a wild pitch and the Purple Hornets led 3-0.

The game remained that way until the fifth, when the Jets finally broke through.

Kylee Andrews led off with a walk. Two batters later, Meg Ruohonen walked. Naomi Frahm then singled to center, which scored Andrews.

Frahm’s hit was the only one the Jets had in the game.

In the bottom half of the inning, however, disaster struck the Jets as L’Anse’s Tessa Thor led off with a single to right field. Biekkola walked and Cichosz then singled to bring Thor home. Allen tripled to right field, clearing the bases and the Purple Hornets led 6-1 at that point.

Ahola drew a walk. Voskuhl reached on an error after Allen stole home. Ahola scored on a wild pitch two batters later. Another walk, this time to Kenzie Bianco put runners on the corners with Dannii Dantes coming to the plate. Dantes was hit by a pitch, loading the bases.

Two batters later, Biekkola singled to center, scoring two runs. Dantes then scored on a wild pitch to end the game with Allen back at the plate.

Ellie Kuntze went 4 2/3 innings in the circle, striking out five, walking seven and giving up five hits in the loss for the Jets.

In the nightcap, the Jets scored eight in the second inning and held off a late charge by the Purple Hornets to earn the win.

Ruohonen went 3-for-4 with two RBI and three runs scored. She also drew two walks.

Andrews, Frahm, and Kuntze all had two hits each.

Mattila earned the win in the circle, striking out seven, walking nine and giving 13 hits in seven innings of work.

The Jets got things started fast in the top of the first inning.

Andrews and Mattila were both hit by a pitch. Ruohonen then singled to load the bases. Frahm flew out to left field, but Andrews scored. Two batters later, Mattila stole home while Kuntze was at the plate, putting Jeffers up 2-0.

L’Anse answered in the bottom half of the inning.

Biekkola drew a one-out walk. Cichosz and Allen also walked to load the bases. Biekkola scored on a passed ball with Mackenzie Dusinicki at the plate. Dusincki singled to center field, scoring Cichosz. Voskuhl then doubled to left field, which brought Allen home. Two batters later, Bianco doubled to center field, scoring Voskuhl and giving the Purple Hornets a 5-2 lead.

The Jets answered in style in the top of the second.

Ana Sudderth drew a lead-off walk. Lilah Hill walked and Chloe Snell was hit by a pitch and the Jets had the bases loaded. Sudderth scored on a wild pitch before Andrews hit into a fielder’s choice. Hill scored on the play.

Mattila and Ruohonen on the play both walked, with Snell scoring, before Frahm flew out to center. Andrews scored on the play. Gracie Moyle then singled to right field, scoring Mattila. Kuntze singled to short, scoring Ruohonen. Sudderth grounded out, but not before Moyle scored on a wild pitch and Kuntze scored before the play came to an end, putting Jeffers up 10-5.

L’Anse got two back in the bottom of the second as Biekkola singled and scored on a double by Allen to center. Dusinicki then singled to center to score Allen, making it a 10-7 game for the Jets at that point.

The Jets then struck twice in the top of the third.

Andrews doubled to left field. She later scored on a wild pitch with Mattila at the plate. Ruohonen tripled to third and Frahm brought her home with a double to left.

Looking for a spark, the Purple Hornets got it in the bottom of the fourth as Biekkola was hit by a pitch. Two batters later, Allen walked, putting runners on the corners. Biekkola stole home with Dusinicki at the plate. Voskuhl reached on an error, scoring Allen and L’Anse trailed 12-9.

Mattila and Ruohonen both walked to open the fifth before Frahm singled to load the bases. Mattila scored on a wild pitch before Moyle grounded out, scoring Ruohonen.

Kuntze walked and Sudderth was hit by a pitch, but not before Frahm scored on a wild pitch, putting Jeffers up 15-9.

Jeffers added another run in the sixth when Andrews singled to right field. Mattila walked and Ruohonen singled to load the bases. Frahm then singled to bring Andrews home.

The Purple Hornets needed a big inning and they got in the bottom half of the sixth.

Allen led off with a single. Dusinicki walked. Voskuhl doubled to center, scoring both runners. She scored two batters later on a passed ball. Dantes and Willow Rexford both walked and another run scored on a passed ball. Suddenly it was 16-13.

Thor singled to center, scoring Dantes. Biekkola flew out, scoring Rexford. Two batters later, Allen singled to short, scoring Thor to even things at 16-16.

The Jets were not to be denied, however. With two outs in the top of the seventh, Andrews was hit by a pitch. Mattila doubled to center field, putting both runners into scoring position. Ruohonen hit into a fielder’s choice, but Andrews scored before the third out was recorded, giving the Jets back the lead.

Two pop outs and a strikeout by Mattila ended the game.

Voskuhl threw seven innings in the loss, striking out six, walking nine and giving up 12 hits.