Houghton Building Supply-Stanton pitcher Brad Juntunen throws from the mound of the Paul Lehto Diamond in Wolverine in a game against REL-Mohawk Technology Tuesday. (Eddie O’Neill/For the Gazette)

WOLVERINE — While Houghton Building Supply-Stanton was a player short on Tuesday in their game against REL Inc.-Mohawk Technology, they made up for it in the runs’ department. They downed REL, 10-7, and got back on the winning track with just eight players in the field.

The majority of their runs came in the first two innings. They hit their way to a 3-0 lead after one, and made it 6-0 after two.

In the first, walks to Stanton’s Daron Durocher and Levi Frahm issued by REL’s starter Alan Jurmu, as well as a single by Joel Durocher, all led to runs.

In the second frame, Zach Geborkoff led with a single. Joel Durocher followed with a base hit of his own. They came home an RBI by Stanton’s starting pitcher Brad Juntunen. Daron Durocher scored as well.

While REL added one in the third, so did Stanton. It was a 7-1 game after three.

Stanton’s bats stayed hot in the fourth with three more runs. Eli Luoma got the rally started with a double. That was followed by a walk to Tom Durocher and Geborkoff. They crossed home on another Frahm double to make it a 10-1 Stanton lead.

REL did post an impressive six runs in the final frame as they went through the lineup. Five of the runs came with two outs. Struggling to get the final out, Luoma came in relieve Juntunen and was able to strike out the second batter he faced for the win.

“Brad (Juntunen) gets the game ball,” noted Stanton’s player-coach Daron Durocher. “He threw strikes, and we played the field well. It got interesting there at the end, but we were able to close it out. We hung on for the win.”

Up next

Stanton faces Northern Driveline Thursday in Stanton. REL will play Garnet Garage in Wolverine. Both games start at 6:30 p.m. Next Tuesday is the final day of the regular season with playoffs to follow.