L’ANSE — In a rescheduled doubleheader Saturday, the Hancock Bulldogs baseball team got a strong effort from shortstop Ben Keranen in the opening game, and multiple hits from pitcher Connor Helminen, centerfielder Todd Kilpela, catcher Caleb Isaacson and first baseman Luciano Paoli, as they defeated the L’Anse Purple Hornets, 12-7 and 11-0.

In the opener, Ben Keranen went 3-for-3 with two runs scored and two RBI, as he helped Hancock improve to 11-3 on the season.

In that game, Hancock scored five times in the first inning, then added one each over the next two innings before exploding for another five in the fourth. L’Anse finally broke through the bottom of the fifth with seven runs, but could not add to that total in the sixth.

Helminen got things started with a leadoff single. Kilpela singled to center. Second baseman Chase Keranen walked, but not until after Helminen scored on a wild pitch. Ben Keranen then singled to second, scoring Kilpela.

Chase Keranen scored on a wild pitch, with Isaacson at the plate. Isaacson then walked. Ben Keranen scored on a wild pitch before Paoli reached on an error, scoring Isaacson.

In the top of the second, with two outs, the Bulldogs got back to work.

Chase Keranen singled to second. Ben Keranen followed with a line drive to right field, scoring Chase.

Hancock continued to find a way to get something across the plate in the third. Paoli drew a leadoff walk. Two batters later, Right fielder Trent Pietila singled to right field to bring Paoli home.

Leading 7-0 in the top of the fourth, the Bulldogs added to their lead.

Kilpela doubled to right field to lead off. Two batters later, he scored on a wild pitch. Ben Keranen then singled to center. Isaacson hit into a fielder’s choice, but he reached first on the play. Keranen scored on a wild pitch before first baseman Nate Thompson walked. Kilpela singled to left, scoring Isaacson.

Pietila walked. Two batters after, Thompson scored on a wild pitch, and third baseman Isaac Wanhala walked. Kilpela scored on a wild pitch with Kilpela at the plate, which made the score 12-0 at that point.

The game settled down until the bottom of the fifth, when L’Anse finally broke through.

First baseman Carson Sanregret got things started with a double to left field. Second baseman Ryan Turpeinen reached on an error, putting runners on the corners. Sanregret scored on an error. Left fielder Henry Yowell reached on an error, scoring Turpeinen.

Right fielder Matthew Maki then grounded into a fielder’s choice. A walk loaded the bases before shortstop Connor Kemppainen singled to left field, scoring Maki and Yowell. Third baseman Karson Kaurala walked and a run scored. Centerfielder Keegan Davidson walked, loading the bases. Kemppainen scored on a wild pitch before Sanregret singled to right field, making it 12-7 in favor of Hancock at that point.

The Bulldogs got the final two outs to end the inning.

Neither team scored another run before the final out was recorded.

Kilpela got the start for Hancock, going 4 1/3 innings, striking out two, walking three, and surrendering four hits to earn the win. Wanhala pitched 1 1/3 in relief. He struck out two and gave up two hits.

Pitcher Daniel Connor got the start for the Purple Hornets. He went 3 1/3, striking out one, walking four and giving up nine hits.

In the nightcap, the Bulldogs scored two in the first, three in the second, and four in the third, then added two more insurance runs in the fifth to earn the win.

Helminen drew a leadoff walk. Two batters later, Chase Keranen sacrificed to bring Helminen home. Ben Keranen tripled to right field. Isaacson walked, putting runners on the corners. Ben Keranen scored on a wild pitch before right fielder Braydon Larson struck out to end the inning.

In the second, Wanhala led off with a triple to right field. Paoli singled to center, scoring Wanhala. Two batters later, Paoli scored on a Helminen single to center.

Kilpela tripled and then scored on a Chase Keranen single to right field.

Isaacson led off the third with a ground ball to center field. Larson reached on an error. Two batters later, Paoli singled to left field, scoring Isaacson. Shortstop Evan Pennala then singled to third, scoring Larson.

Helminen singled, scoring Paoli. Kilpela then singled to right field, which brought Pennala home and made it 9-0 Hancock.

The score remained a nine-run lead for the Bulldogs until the fifth. Helminen drew a leadoff walk. Pietila singled to right field. Chase Keranen hit a sacrifice fly to score Helminen. Two batters later, Isaacson singled to right field, scoring Pietila, which put the game out of reach.

Helminen got the start, going three innings to earn the win. He struck out five, walked one, and did not give up a hit. Chase Keranen pitched two innings in relief. He walked one and gave up just one hit.

Kemppainen got the start for L’Anse. He went three innings, striking out one, walking three and giving up 11 hits. Turpeinen went two innings in relief, striking out two, walking one, and surrendering three hits.