Houghton's Annika Schlief swings away Friday in a game against Hancock at Bill Givens Field at the Hancock Driving Park. (Eddie O’Neill/For the Gazette)

HANCOCK — Rivalry softball was on display Friday at the Hancock Driving Park as the Hancock Bulldogs welcomed their cross-canal foes, the Houghton Gremlins, to Bill Givens Field. The game ended early in the sixth inning due to rain, but the Bulldogs had already secured a 7-3 lead at that time.

It was the Bulldogs’ second win in three games. Both of Hancock’s wins were under the leadership of pitcher Lucy Biekkola, who had 10 strikeouts over five complete innings. She walked just three.

Bulldogs coach Craig Biekkola summed up the afternoon by stating that timely hitting was key.

“We had a couple of nice hits to drive in runs and we ran the bases well,” he stated. “As well, pitching was strong, and we limited the mistakes in the field.”

After two scoreless innings, the Bulldogs finally got on the scoreboard with two runs in the top of the third. Helping her own cause was Biekkola who hit a line-drive double to left and scored on a Vaeda Brooks single. Brooks was run No. 2, courtesy of an Alice Larson single.

The Gremlins countered with a run of their own as Vera Pietila crossed home.

It stayed 2-1 through the fourth.

In the fifth, both teams scored again. First the Bulldogs posted three runs. A walk to Brooks and a single by Larson led to them crossing home plate. As well, Emery Chynoweth walked and eventually scored thanks to a base knock by Tally Storm.

The Gremlins countered again, but with one less run than their opponent. Back-to-back walks to Houghton’s Romi Mattson and Kia Markham led to runs.

It was now a 5-3 Hancock lead after five, and cloudy weather was setting in the area. The Bulldogs tacked on two more runs in the sixth before the rain started to fall, and the game was called.

Up next

Hancock will welcome Gwinn to the Driving Park Monday with a 4 p.m. start.