Houghton first baseman Ellie Hainault runs for third base during a game against Coleman Saturday during the Copper County Invite at the Bill Givens Field at the Hancock Driving Park. (Daver Karnosky/Daily Mining Gazette)

HOUGHTON — After finally breaking through during the Copper Country Invite with their first win of the season, the Houghton Gremlins softball team racked up two more Wednesday in a sweep of the Gogebic Miners, 13-3 and 3-2, at the Houghton High School field.

First baseman Ellie Hainault was excellent in the leadoff spot in the opening game, going 3-for-4 with an RBI and three runs scored. Pitcher Josie Switzer went 4-for-4 with two RBI and three runs scored batting in the cleanup spot.

Switzer was also excellent in the circle, where she threw six innings, striking out four, walking two, and giving up just four hits.

In the nightcap, the Gremlins (3-8 overall) managed three runs on four hits. Hainault was dominant in the circle, going seven innings, striking out 10, walking one, and surrendering five hits.

In the opener, the Miners jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning. The game stayed that way into the bottom of the second.

Switzer reached on a one-out single. Centerfielder Emmy Pietila followed with a single to third and the Gremlins had a little something going. Right fielder Delaney Salmi sacrificed to move the runners into scoring position.

Left fielder Paige Nettell singled, and Switzer scored. Pietila then stole home with second baseman Thora Bier at the plate. Bier ended up striking out to end the inning, but Houghton was level at 2-2.

Gogebic regained the lead, but by only one, in the top of the third. Houghton rattled off three runs in the bottom half of the inning.

Hainault led off with a single. Third baseman Romi Mattson laid down a bunt and reached. Gogebic tried to throw out Hainault at third, but the ball got away, allowing her to score. Mattson made it to third before the play came to an end. Shortstop Kia Markham then singled to short, scoring Mattson, and putting up 4-3.

Two batters later, Switzer singled to short, scoring Markham.

Leading 5-3 in the bottom of the fourth, Houghton padded their lead. Nettell led off with a double to third. Two batters later, Hainault singled to short, scoring Nettell. Mattson grounded out, but not before Hainault scored, extending the Gremlins’ lead to 7-3.

They added two more runs in the fifth. Switzer drilled a one-out triple to center field. She scored on a passed ball with Pietila at the plate. After Pieitla grounded out, Salmi tripled to center. Nettell then singled to second, scoring Salmi.

Houghton, ahead 9-3, added four insurance runs in the bottom of the sixth.

Hainault led off with a ground ball back to the pitcher, but she reached first anyway. She managed to score on a passed ball with Mattson at the plate. Mattson then doubled to center field. Markham singled to short, scoring Mattson in the process.

Two batters later, Switzer doubled to center field. Markham crossed home plate on the play. Switzer then scored on a double by Pietila, and Houghton led at that point by 10 runs.

In the nightcap, Gogebic again jumped out to an early lead, 1-0, after the top of the first inning.

Houghton responded quickly. Mattson hit a one-out triple to third. Markham followed, reaching on an error, which scored Mattson. Two batters after that, Markham scored on a passed ball with Switzer at the plate.

The Gremlins were still up 2-1 going into the fourth inning. Gogebic evened the score in the top half, but could not create any separation.

The game remained 2-2 into the bottom half of the sixth inning. Catcher Lexi Burns tripled to leadoff the inning, and suddenly Houghton was just 60 feet from the lead. Two batters later, Burns stole home with Pietila at the plate. Pietila then singled. However, Salmi and right fielder Jillian Isaacson both ground out to end the threat.

Hainault faced just four batters in the top of the seventh, and only allowed one baserunner before she got the final two outs necessary for the Gremlins to earn their second win of the day.

Up next

Houghton is scheduled to host Jeffers Monday for a doubleheader starting at 4 p.m.