Calumet pitcher Danni Stites prepares to deliver a pitch during a game against Menominee during the Copper Country Invite Saturday, April 25, at the Gordy Schaff Field at the Hancock Driving Park. (Daver Karnosky/Daily Mining Gazette)

CALUMET — The Calumet Copper Kings and the Hancock Bulldogs softball teams battled the wind and the cool temperatures to a split Monday afternoon in Calumet. The Copper Kings won the opener, 7-5, on the strength of solid pitching from Danni Stites. Hancock bounced back in the nightcap, winning 19-2 in three innings.

Stites struck out 10 over seven innings in the opening game. She also walked four and surrendered seven hits.

At the plate, shortstop Molly Erkkila went 3-for-4 with two runs scored and one RBI to drive Calumet’s offense.

After a scoreless top of the first inning by the Bulldogs, the Copper Kings (9-8 overall) got to work. Erkkila got things started with a one-out single to right field. First baseman Chloe Coppo drew a walk. Two batters later, right fielder Jaysa Wilks reached on an error while Erkkila and Coppo both scored. Third baseman Kaydence Christopherson struck out to end the threat.

Hancock (6-4 overall) answered with three runs in the top of the second.

Second baseman Chloe Bastian drew a leadoff walk. Centerfielder Vaeda Brooks doubled to center field, scoring Bastian. Two batters later, right fielder Jana Pietila doubled to third, and Brooks scored on the play. Pietila scored on an error before catcher Alice Larson grounded out to end the inning.

In the top of the third, the Bulldogs extended their lead. Pitcher Lucy Biekkola singled to left field with one out. Third baseman Emery Chynoweth singled to center. Bastian then singled to right field, scoring Biekkola in the process.

Trailing 4-2 going into the bottom half of the inning, the Copper Kings battled back to take the lead.

Left fielder Bethany Garrow led off with a single to short. Erkkila singled to right field, and Garrow made it to third on the play, putting runners on the corners. Coppo grounded into a fielder’s choice. Garrow scored before the play ended. Centerfielder Jailyn Poshak then tied the game with a triple to right field, which scored Coppo.

Wilks singled to third, putting runners on the corners again as Poshak stopped at third. Christopherson grounded out, but Poshak scored on the play, putting Calumet ahead 5-4.

The game stayed that way until the bottom of the sixth, when the Copper Kings added a pair of runs to give them a cushion.

Second baseman Millie Loukus led off with a single to left field that she stretched into two bases after an error. Garrow then doubled to left field, but Loukus was caught trying for home. However, with two runners on, Erkkila tripled to right field, scoring both Garrow. Coppo then reached on an error and Erkkila scored.

Hancock got one back in the top of the seventh, but that was as close they could get.

With two out, Larson singled to left field, and she made it to second on an error before the play came to an end. Shortstop Kaelyn Rouleau doubled to center. Biekkola was hit by a pitch, loading the bases. Chynoweth then walked, forcing Larson across home plate, and keeping the bases loaded.

Unfortunately for the visitors, Bastian grounded out to end the threat and the game.

Lucy Biekkola went six innings in the circle for the Bulldogs. She struck out six, walked one, and surrendered 11 hits in the loss.

In the nightcap, Hancock opened things up right away. Bastian drew a leadoff walk. Rouleau also walked. Three batters later, Bastian scored on a passed ball. Rouleau scored on another passed ball. Brooks walked. She scored on another passed ball before Tally Storm walked. Chynoweth also walked, but Pietila grounded out to end the inning.

Calumet needed to answer quickly and they did. Garrow singled to lead off. Two batters later, Coppo singled to left field, bringing Garrow home. Poshak and Loukus both got bats on balls, but could not come up with a hit before the inning came to an end.

Hancock wanted to tack on runs, and they did in a big way in the second inning.

First baseman Diem Kilpela drew a leadoff walk. Bastian then walked. Rouleau singled to load the bases. Biekkola singled to left field, scoring Kilpela and Bastian. Larson then walked, loading the bases again. Two batters later, Storm walked, scoring Rouleau. Chynoweth walked, pushing Biekkola.

Two batters later, Kilpela walked, scoring Storm in the process. Bastian was hit by a pitch, scoring Chynoweth. Rouleau drew a walk, scoring Pietila. The Bulldogs led 10-1 at that point.

Calumet got one back in the bottom half of the inning. Left fielder Amiina Tarnowski singled to right field. Two batters later, Cara Halonen singled to right field, bringing Tarnowski home.

With the score 10-2, Hancock needed seven runs in the third to seal the win. They scored nine.

It all started with a single to center field by Larson. Two batters later, she scored on a passed ball before Storm walked. Chynoweth was hit by a pitch. Pietila walked to load the bases. Kipela walked, scoring Storm. Chynoweth scored on a wild pitch before Bastian walked to load the bases back up.

Rouleau drew another walk, scoring Pietila. Biekkola followed with a walk, scoring Kilpela. Bastian scored on a wild pitch. Larson singled to second base, scoring Rouleau. Biekkola scored on a wild pitch. Larson then scored on a passed ball. Storm singled to center field. Chynoweth walked, but Storm was caught trying to steal third, ending the inning.

Calumet went down 1-2-3 in the bottom half of the inning, ending the game.

Biekkola went three innings in the circle, striking out three, walking none, and surrendering four hits.

Poshak got the start for Calumet, going 1 1/3 innings. She struck out two, walked 10 and gave up two hits. Wilks pitched an inning in relief, walking eight and giving up one hit. Coppo pitched 2/3 of an inning, walking one and giving up two hits.

Hancock’s Alice Larson sprints towards first base during a game against Rudyard during the Copper Country Invite Saturday, April 25, at the Bill Givens Field at the Hancock Driving Park. (Daver Karnosky/Daily Mining Gazette)