Calumet shortstop Molly Erkkila makes a throw during a game against Jeffers Thursday in South Range. (David Archambeau/For the Gazette)

SOUTH RANGE — Chloe Coppo was a leader in the opening game of a doubleheader as she helped lift the Calumet Copper Kings softball to a win on the road over the Jeffers Jets, 13-4. She was not as impressive in the nightcap, but she had help from Molly Erkkila and Danni Stites as the Copper Kings won again, this time 17-11.

In the opening game, Stites was very strong in the circle, going seven innings striking out 10, walking six, and surrendering just five hits.

The Copper Kings scored seven runs over the first three innings and then added six more runs over the final two to seal the win.

With one out in the top of the first, Erkkila drew a walk. She got to second on a passed ball, and then, when Coppo singled to center field, Erkkila scored.

Leading 1-0 in the second, Calumet continued the assault. Stites led off with a double to center field. Third baseman Kaydence Christopherson walked. Second baseman Millie Loukus singled to right field, scoring Stites. Christopherson scored on a passed ball before Amiina Tarnowski walked. Then left fielder Bethany Garrow singled to right field, scoring Loukus in the process.

Suddenly, the Copper Kings had extended their lead to 4-0.

They pushed that lead with three more runs in the top of the third. Centerfielder Jailyn Poshak walked to lead off. Right fielder Jaysa Wilks reached on a fielder’s choice, but Poshak was tagged out. Stites walked. Christopherson then loaded the bases with a walk.

Loukus grounded into a fielder’s choice, but Wilks scored. Tarnowski singled to short, scoring Stites. Garrow followed with a single of her own to center, and Loukus scored.

Jeffers needed to get something on the board and they did in the bottom of the third.

Third baseman Elli Kuntze walked with one out. Two batters later, she scored on a single by first baseman Svea Johnson to center field.

The Jets earned another run in the fifth. Johnson drew a one-out walk. Centerfielder Kylee Andrews sacrificed to move Lydia Larson to second, who had come into the game to run for Johnson. Left fielder Addi Randell was hit by a pitch, which loaded the bases. Kaydee Archambeau stepped up with a chance to bring a run, or more, in, but she flew out.

Larson scored on a passed ball with Right fielder Evelyn Sturos at the plate. Sturos then drew a walk, loading the bases again. However, shortstop Meg Ruohonen struck out to end the inning.

Calumet added two more runs in the top of the sixth. Erkkila laid down a bunt and reached first with one out to get things started. Coppo drew a walk. Poshak reached on an error, scoring Erkkiila in the process. Wilks followed, reaching on another error, and this time Coppo scored.

The Jets answered with a pair of runs. With one out, Kuntze walked. Catcher Naomi Frahm doubled to left field, scoring Kuntze. Two batters later, Frahm scored on a single by Andrews, and Jeffers trailed 9-4.

Calumet added four more runs in the seventh to put the game out of reach. Loukus singled to center with one out to start the rally. Two batters later, Garrow was hit by a pitch. Erkkila tripled to right field, scoring Loukus and Garrow.

The scoring continued as Coppo doubled to left field, scoring Erkkila. Poshak singled to center, scoring Coppo, and putting the Copper Kings up by nine at that point.

Janet Mattila took the loss for the Jets. She went seven innings, striking out two, walking seven, and surrendering 13 hits.

Calumet opened the second game with a pair of runs in the top of the first. Coppo came up with a two-out double to get things going. Poshak doubled to right field, scoring Coppo. Wilks was hit by a pitch. Catcher Abby Bausano walked to load the bases. Poshak then scored on a passed ball with Loukus at the plate.

The Jets responded in the bottom half of the inning. Mattila came up with a one-out single to short. Kuntze singled to short. Frahm was hit by a pitch, loading the bases. Johnson singled, scoring Mattila. Kuntze then scored on a passed ball, and the game was even.

Calumet then added four runs in the top of the second. Tarnowski reached on an error. Garrow drew a walk. Erkkila singled to right field to load the bases. Coppo grounded out, but Tarnowski scored.

Poshak walked, loading the bases again. Christopherson came in to run for her. Garrow scored on a passed ball, Erkkila then scored on an error, and Christopherson then scored on a passed ball, all before Wilks flew out to end the inning.

Jeffers responded with five runs in the bottom half of the inning to take their first lead of the day.

Left fielder Lilah Hill walked to lead off. Ruohonen singled to center field. Mattila walked after Hill scored on a passed ball. Kuntze singled to short, scoring Ruohonen. Mattila then scored on a passed ball before Frahm brought Kuntze home on a single to right.

Johnson walked. Andrews was hit by a pitch, loading the bases. Two batters later, Hill walked, scoring Frahm and giving the Jets a 7-6 lead.

Calumet responded with two runs in the top of the third. Right fielder Cara Halonen reached on an error with two outs to spark the inning. Tarnowski was hit by a pitch. Garrow then singled to right field, scoring Halonen.

Erkkila was hit by a pitch, loading the bases. Tarnowski scored on a passed ball before Coppo grounded out to end the inning.

The Jets responded with three runs in the bottom of the third. Ruohonen walked to lead off. Mattila was hit by a pitch. Kuntze walked to load the bases. Ruohonen scored on a wild pitch before Frahm walked to load the bases again. Johnson flew out, but Mattila scored after tagging. Kuntze then scored on an error at the plate.

Trailing 10-8, Calumet bounced back with six in the top of the fourth. Christopherson reached on an error to start. Wilks was hit by a pitch. Stites walked to load the bases. Loukus singled, scoring Christopherson. Halonen hit into a fielder’s choice, scoring Stites and Wilks.

Two batters later, Erkkila hit a three-run home run to center field and suddenly the Copper Kings were up 14-10.

The Jets got one back in the fourth. Sturos was hit by a pitch. Ruohonen singled to short. Two batters later, Kuntze singled to center, scoring Sturos in the process.

The game remained 14-11 for Calumet until they added insurance in the seventh.

Coppo walked to lead off. Christopherson doubled to left field, scoring Coppo. Wilks reached on an error. Christopherson scored on a passed ball. Stites then doubled to center, scoring Wilks, and giving the Copper Kings the six-run lead they held until the end of the game.

Poshak started in the circle for the Copper Kings. She went one inning, walking one and giving up three hits. Wilks pitched an inning in relief, striking out two, walking on, and surrendering three hits. Stites then pitched five innings in relief, striking out six, walking four, and surrendering two hits to earn the win.

Kuntze went 2 2/3 innings for the Jets. She struck out four, walked three, and gave up four hits. Sturos pitched the remainder of the game in relief, striking out one, walking three, and surrendering six hits.

Jeffers pitcher Elli Kuntze delivers a pitch during the second game of a doubleheader against Calumet Thursday in South Range. (David Archambeau/For the Gazette)