CALUMET — In their final tuneup before the district tournament, the Calumet Copper Kings softball team dropped a pair of games to the Negaunee Miners at home. They dropped the opener 13-0, and then the nightcap, 17-14.

With the losses, the Copper Kings finished the regular season 15-12-1 overall.

In the opener, shortstop Molly Erkkila managed to pick up the lone Copper Kings hit.

In the circle, Danni Stites got the start, going 1 1/3 innings. She struck out two, walked nine, and surrendered one hit. Jailyn Poshak pitched 3 2/3 in relief. She struck out four, walked two, and gave up three hits.

In the nightcap, the Copper Kings scored the game’s first six runs, added three more in the bottom of the fourth, and five more after that, but could not hold the Miners to less than 17 runs over the final four innings.

Left fielder Bethany Garrow was the lone Calumet hitter to get multiple hits as she went 2-for-3 with two walks, four runs scored, and four RBI, all off a grand slam home run.

In the bottom of the first inning, the Copper Kings got on the board with a solo home run by first baseman Chloe Coppo to center field.

In the second, second baseman Jaysa Wilks was hit by a pitch to lead off. Third baseman Amiina Tarnowski was also hit by a pitch. Catcher Clara Issacson walked to load the bases. Three batters later, Garrow hit a grand slam to left field.

In the third, Poshak, who started in center field, walked with one out. Wilks singled to center. Poshak then scored on a steal of home with Tarnowski at the plate.

The Miners evened the game in the top of the fourth before Calumet fought back with three in the bottom half of the inning.

Isaacson led off with a walk. Two batters later, second baseman Cara Halonen singled to center field. Garrow walked. Catcher Trinity Rajala grounded out, but Isaacson scored. Coppo then reached on an error, scoring Halonen and Garrow.

Negaunee took the lead 10-9 with four runs in the top of the fifth. They added two more runs in the sixth.

Garrow sparked the Copper Kings to bounce back in the bottom half of the fifth. She singled back to the pitcher. Rajala then singled to right field. Coppo walked to load the bases, Poshak walked, forcing Garrow home. Three batters later, Rajala scored on a steal of home with Isaacson at the plate. Issacson then walked, but a strikeout by right fielder Elisa Laplander ended the inning.

The Miners added five more runs in the top of the sixth before the Copper Kings’ comeback came up just short in the bottom half of the inning.

Halonen and Garrow both walked. Garrow scored on an error three batters later. Poshak then singled. Second baseman Maddie Myhren reached on an error, scoring Coppo, who reached on a fielder’s choice earlier in the inning. Tarnowski then reached on an error, scoring Poshak.

Issacson grounded out to end the inning and the game.

Stites got the start in the circle, going five innings. She struck out five, walked six, and surrendered six hits. Myhren went two innings in relief, surrendering eight hits.