Calumet first baseman Chloe Coppo awaits a pitch during a game against Menominee last season at the Hancock Driving Park. (Daver Karnosky/Daily Mining Gazette)

KINGSFORD — Coming off a pair of losses to the Lake Linden-Hubbell Lakes, the Calumet Copper Kings softball team was looking for a better outing Tuesday in Kingsford. The Flivvers played rude hosts in the opening game, winning 13-3, but the Copper Kings responded by storming back with a 13-3 win of their own in the nightcap.

Second baseman Millie Loukus was the lone Copper King to have multiple hits in the opener, going 2-for-3 at the plate.

Calumet (3-5 overall) was down 7-0 after three innings before they were able to string together some offense in the top of the fourth.

It all started with a lead off single by Loukus. She was moved to second by a first baseman Chloe Coppo sacrifice. Left fielder Jaysa Wilks singled to center. Then third baseman Kaydence Christopherson singled to third, loading the bases with Jailyn Poshak coming to the plate.

Poshak doubled to center and the Copper Kings scored two runs on the play. Catcher Clara Isaacson singled, which loaded the bases again. Pitcher Danni Stites drew a walk, which brought Christopherson home and pulled Calumet within four, 7-3.

Kingsford answered with six runs in the bottom half of the inning to put the game out of reach.

Stites struck out four and walked three while giving up 10 hits in the game for the Copper Kings in the circle.

In the nightcap, Wilks went 2-for-4 with two runs scored. She also knocked in five runs to help drive the Copper Kings offense to the win.

Calumet started quickly. Shortstop Molly Erkkila turned an 0-2 count into a hit by pitch and the Copper Kings were off and running. Loukus reached on an error. Coppo sacrificed to move the runners into scoring position. Wilks doubled to left, scoring both. Then Poshak grounded out back to the pitcher, but it was enough to score Wilks on a later error on the same play.

The Flivvers tied the game in the bottom of the second, but Calumet answered quickly in the third.

Loukus reached with a one-out single to right field. Two batters later, Wilks hit a two-run home run to left field. Poshak singled to center. Christopherson reached on an error. Then, Isaacson reached on an error, which scored Poshak. Left fielder Elisa Laplander was hit by a pitch, which loaded the bases. Christopherson scored on a passed ball before Isaacson was caught stealing third and putting the Copper Kings up 7-3

In the top of the fourth, Calumet kept the pressure on. Erkkila started things off with a one-out single to short. Loukus singled. Coppo then tripled to center, scoring both Erkkila and Loukus in the process.

Wilks reached on an error, which scored Coppo, and the Copper Kings led 10-3 at that point.

In the top of the fifth, Calumet put the game out of reach. Isaacson led off by reaching on an error. Laplander was hit by a pitch. Right fielder Cara Halonen reached on an error, which scored both Isaacson and Laplander.

Erkkila walked. An error allowed Halonen to score with Loukus at the plate. Loukus reached on another error, but two straight outs ended the threat.

Poshak went five innings in the circle for the win. She struck out four and walked three, but held the Flivvers to just two hits.

Up next

The Copper Kings travel to face Gogebic Thursday, starting at 4 p.m. They follow that up by heading to the Hancock Driving Park Saturday for the Copper Country Invite where they will open with Menominee at 12 p.m.