Houghton catcher Lexi Burns connects with a pitch for a two-run home run during a game against Coleman Saturday during the Copper Country Invite at the Bill Givens Field at the Hancock Driving Park. (Daver Karnosky/Daily Mining Gazette)

HANCOCK — When coach Mel Baker addressed her team after their opening game of the Copper Country Invite Saturday, she suggested that they had a worse record than they actually did. Despite that brief mistake, her Houghton Gremlins softball team had plenty to be excited about. They won their opening game, 9-8 over the Coleman Cougars, and were tied with the Menominee Maroons, 4-4, before falling, 7-4.

“We found the ‘W’ today,” said Baker, with a smile. “It wasn’t pretty, but we found it.”

Baker, whose Gremlins are 1-7 to start the season, admitted her team has struggled with the early-season games.

“The transition this year from gym to field was very difficult on us,” she said. “Being in the gym so long, then getting used to those bounces, then coming to a field and playing for the first time on a field with no practice on a field, is difficult. So, we finally had one practice on our field, and I feel like it was like, ‘Yes, OK, we’re ready.'”

In the opening game, the Gremlins used a six-run fifth inning to help earn the win.

It started with a leadoff single by pitcher Josie Switzer. Delaney Salmi followed with a single to short. Left fielder Katia Rudak laid down a sacrifice to advance the two runners before Vera Pietila flew out.

First baseman Ellie Hainault then stepped to the plate. She tripled, which brought both Switzer and Salmi home, turning a 7-2 Coleman lead into a 7-4 advantage. Shortstop Kia Markham then doubled to center field, scoring Hainault. Third baseman Romi Mattson followed with a double to center, scoring Markham, and Houghton trailed by just one, 7-6.

With Mattson still at second base, catcher Lexi Burns drilled the second pitch of the at bat over the center field fence, and suddenly Houghton led, 8-7.

Coleman evened the game in the top of the sixth, and Houghton needed to sort out a way to get their first win in the bottom half of the inning again. Switzer led off with a double to right field. Three batters later, Pietila was hit by a pitch, putting runners at first and third with Hainault coming to the plate. The Cougars walked Hainault intentionally to load the bases.

With the count at one ball and one strike, Markham rattled off three straight foul balls, and a fourth two pitches later, before singling to center field. That single brought Paige Nettell, who was running for Switzer, across home plate to give Houghton a 9-8 lead.

Switzer returned to the circle for the top of the seventh, and four batters and a double play later, the Gremlins had their first win.

Baker praised the efforts of Switzer, Burns, Markham, and Hainault for their leadership in key moments.

“The seniors, they’ve been probably the most upset with all of the losses we’ve had,” Baker said. “For them to finally get this under their belt, and that confidence that we’re putting the bat on the ball, is huge. I think it was a little spark today, and hopefully it sets off a fire for us.”

The Gremlins actually held a 1-0 lead in the game after a good bottom of the first inning.

Hainault led off with a single to left field. She stole second and third on separate pitches before a ground out by Markham gave her time to score.

Coleman responded with three runs in the top of the second. They pushed their lead to 5-1 in the top of the third.

Houghton got one back in the bottom of the third. Rudak led off with a single. Two batters later, Hainault doubled to right field, scoring Rudak in the process.

The Cougars added another run in the fifth to get to 6-2 before the Gremlins had their big inning.

Switzer went seven innings in the circle, striking out four, walking three and giving up 15 hits, but she still earned the win for Houghton.

In their second game of the day, Houghton led in the top of the first, 1-0, and then tied things up at 4-4 in the fifth, but gave up three runs in the bottom half of that same inning to fall to the Maroons.

Hainault led off with a triple to right field. Three batters later, Burns singled to left, scoring Hainault.

Menominee scored twice in the bottom half of the inning. Houghton regained the lead with two runs in the top of the second. Salmi earned a one-out walk. Nettell then singled to center field. Hainault then singled. During the play, a defensive error allowed Salmi to score and Hainault to move to second. Markham then grounded out, but Hainault scored, giving the Gremlins a 3-2 lead.

In the bottom of the third, Menominee scored twice to regain the lead, 4-3. Two innings later, Houghton tied it.

Mattson doubled to right with one out to start the rally. Two batters later, centerfielder Emmy Pietila singled to second, which brought Mattson home.

Hainault got the start for the Gremlins in the circle. She struck out seven, walked two, and gave up nine hits in six innings of work in the loss.

Up next

The Gremlins are scheduled to return to action Monday, when they host Calumet. Opening pitch is set for 4 p.m.