LAKE LINDEN — The Lake Linden-Hubbell Lakes softball team scored runs in every inning of a 14-4 win Tuesday over the visiting Houghton Gremlins at the Boneyard.

With the win, the Lakes improved to 12-0 to start the season.

Both third baseman Cleo Milkey and left fielder Kyara Mills sparked the Lakes’ offense. Both went 3-for-4 at the plate. Milkey scored twice and knocked in five runs. Mills knocked in four runs.

After pitcher Payton Goldsworthy got through a 1-2-3 top of the first inning, the Lakes settled in at the plate.

Center fielder Ashlyn Steves led off with a double to center field. Milkey drew a walk. Catcher Taylor Goldsworthy then walked as well, loading the bases. Mills drove a ball to left field, bringing Steves home.

A double play ended the inning.

Houghton jumped out to a 2-1 lead with a strong top of the second. Catcher Lexi Burns led off with a single. Center fielder Emmy Pietila brought her home with a triple to right field. Then left fielder Delaney Salmi sacrificed to score Pietila, and the Gremlins had the lead.

The Lakes pushed back hard in the bottom half of the inning. With one out, second baseman Megan Sutherland singled to left field. Steves walked. Milkey then singled to center, scoring both runners on the play. Then she scored shortly after when Taylor Goldsworthy doubled to left field. Two batters later, Mills singled, scoring Goldsworthy and Lake Linden led 5-2.

The Gremlins cut into the lead in the top of the third. Second baseman Ellie Hainault picked up a one-out single to right field. Shortstop Kia Markham followed with a single to left field, and Hainault scored on the play. However, Houghton could not get closer than 5-3 at that point.

The Lakes’ offense exploded in the bottom half of the inning to put the game out of reach. It all started with a single by Sophia Hampton. Two batters later, Sutherland walked. Steves walked as well to load the bases. Milkey doubled to right field, clearing the bases.

Taylor Goldsworthy walked as Houghton pitcher Romi Mattson struggled to recover. Two batters later, Mills doubled to right field, bringing Milkey and Goldsworthy home, and suddenly Lake Linden was up 10-3.

In the fourth, the Lakes added another run. This time, first baseman Jovie Daniels singled to left field. Two batters later, Steves walked. Milkey followed with a single, scoring Daniels.

Houghton made it 11-4 in the top of the fifth. Third baseman Karly Matson walked to lead off. She made it to third on a passed ball and a wild pitch, then scored on a sacrifice fly by Hainault.

Lake Linden got the run back in the bottom half of the inning. Payton Goldsworthy singled. Two batters later, Ella Schneiderhan singled to center. Hampton hit into a fielder’s choice, but Goldsworthy scored.

The Gremlins could not solve Payton Goldsworthy in the top of the sixth, and still trailed 12-4 when Steves drew a one-out walk. Two batters later, Taylor Goldsworthy walked. Then Payton doubled to right field, scoring both runners and ending the game via mercy.

Payton Goldsworthy struck out five and walked one to earn the win for Lake Linden in the circle. Mattson went 2 1/3 innings, striking out two and walking six. Hainault threw 3 1/3 innings in relief, striking out one, and walking three in the loss.

Up next

Houghton returns to the field Saturday still searching for their first win when they face Coleman during the Copper Country Invite at the Hancock Driving Park at 12 p.m. Lake Linden will also be at the invite, facing Gogebic in their opener at 1:30 p.m.