Jeffers shortstop Meg Ruohonen rounds third base to head home after hitting a home run in the second game of a doubleheader against Gwinn on Wednesday, May 7. (David Archambeau/For the Gazette).

IRONWOOD — The Jeffers Jets softball team hit the road Friday, earning a split with the Ironwood Red Devils. The Jets won the opening game, 16-6, but dropped the nightcap, 13-1.

In the opener, shortstop Meg Ruohonen was outstanding, going 3-for-4 with two doubles and a home run. She knocked in five runs while scoring three times as well.

The Jets scored five times before the Red Devils got on the board with four runs in the bottom of the third to get back into the game. The Jets led 7-6 heading into the sixth, where they scored nine runs to put the game out of reach.

Center fielder Kylee Andrews led off with a walk. Three batters later, first baseman Naomi Frahm hit a two-out double to left field, scoring Andrews. Pitcher Ellie Kuntze followed with a single to short, scoring Frahm and the Jets led 2-0.

In the top of the second, catcher Gracie Moyle singled to center. KayDee Archambeau singled to third, which put runners on the corners. Two batters later, right fielder Jordan Holombo grounded out, but not before Moyle scored.

With one out in the third, second baseman Janet Mattila doubled to center. Ruohonen then hit a two-run home run to center field and the Jets led 5-0 at that point.

The Red Devils scored four times in the bottom half of the fourth to make it a one-run game. Jeffers looked for some insurance and found it in the fourth.

With one out, Holombo hit a line drive towards third and reached on a defensive error. She made her way to third with a pair of steals and then was brought home by a sacrifice fly ball by Andrews.

In the fifth, the Jets got on the board quickly again. Ruohonen led off with a double to left field. Two batters later, Kuntze reached on an error, scoring Ruohonen on the play and putting Jeffers up 7-4.

With two out in the bottom half of the inning, the Red Devils closed the gap to 7-6.

Jeffers went into the top of the sixth looking for some insurance, and instead found a whole bunch.

With one out, right fielder Chloe Snell singled to get things started. Holombo then singled, and before the play came to an end, both runners advanced into scoring position. Andrews walked to load the bases. Mattila then singled to short, scoring Snell. Ruohonen followed with a double, clearing the bases, and the Jets led at that point 11-6.

The inning continued with Frahm singling to left field, scoring Ruohonen. Kuntze then tripled to center field, scoring Frah, Moyle singled to center to bring Kuntze home. Archambeau then singled to short, and Snell followed with a single to third, scoring Moyle. Lilah Hill, who came in to run for Archambeau, scored the Jets’ final run on a sacrifice by Holombo.

Kuntze made the start for the Jets, striking out six, walking six and giving up one hit in two innings of work. Mattila pitched four innings in relief, striking out three, walking six and giving up four hits.

In the nightcap, the Red Devils jumped out to a 1-0 lead. The Jets evened things in the second inning, but Ironwood scored six in the third, one in the fourth, and five in the fifth to earn the win.

The Jets looked to even the game in the bottom of the second when Kuntze led off with a single on a grounder to third. Two batters later, Archambeau grounded out, but Kuntze scored on the play to even the game at that point.

Andrews and Ruohonen had the other two Jets’ hits in the game.

Mattila went five innings in the pitcher’s circle for the loss. She struck out five, walked 11 and gave up nine hits.

Up next

The Jets are back in action Tuesday when they travel to face Wakefield-Marenisco.