The Houghton softball team swarms catcher Lexi Burns (black helmet) after she hit a home run in a game this season against Coleman at the Bill Givens Field at the Hancock Driving Park. (Daver Karnosky/Daily Mining Gazette)

CALUMET — On the road, and while battling cold temperatures, the Houghton Gremlins softball team needed a bit of a turnaround after dropping four straight games last week. Monday, they scored five runs in the sixth inning of the opening game of a doubleheader against the Calumet Copper Kings to earn a 13-6 win. In the nightcap, the Gremlins scored two runs in the top of the sixth to pull even with the Copper Kings.

With the win and the tie, Houghton improved to 7-12-1 overall on the season. Calumet fell to 11-9-1 with the loss and tie.

In the opening game, catcher Lexi Burns was strong at the plate, going 3-for-4 with two runs scored and an RBI.

Houghton struck first in the top of the first inning. Pitcher Ellie Hainault was hit by a pitch to lead off. She was caught stealing before shortstop Romi Mattson walked. First baseman Josie Switzer was hit by a pitch. Burns then singled to right field. Mattson scored on an error during the play.

Calumet answered quickly with a pair of runs in the bottom half of the inning. Shortstop Molly Erkkila tripled to right field. First baseman Chloe Coppo walked, putting runners on the corners. Two batters later, second baseman Clara Issacson walked, loading the bases. Right fielder Jaysa Wilks then singled to left, scoring Erkkila and Coppo.

The Copper Kings added another run in the second. With two outs, left fielder Bethany Garrow singled to second. Erkkila then tripled to right field, scoring Garrow in the process.

Houghton answered with four runs in the third. Switzer drew a one-out walk. Burns was hit by a pitch. Left fielder Paige Nettell reached on an error, scoring Switzer and Burns, tying things at 3-3.

Centerfielder Emmy Pietila singled to short. Third baseman Aanika Schlief popped out to third for the second. Pietila scored on the play before the throw reached home plate.

The Gremlins added two more runs in the fourth. Hainault was hit by a pitch with one out to get things started. Mattson drew a walk. Switzer flew out, but Hainault scored after tagging up. The play continued, and Mattson scored on an error, and just like that, Houghton led 7-3.

They added another run in the fifth. With two outs, Schlief singled to right field. Right fielder Delaney Salmi then singled to center, scoring Schlief in the process.

Calumet answered that run with one of their own in the bottom half of the inning. With one out, Issacson doubled to left field. Wilks then doubled to left, scoring Issacson and making it 8-4 Houghton.

The Gremlins racked up five runs in the top of the sixth to put the game out of reach. Hainault led off with a triple to center to get things started quickly. Mattson drew another walk. Two batters later, Burns doubled to left field, scoring Mattson after Hainault had scored on a passed ball.

Nettell then doubled to left, scoring Burns. Pietila singled to center, bringing Nettell home. Pietila scored from second on an error. Then Schlief singled to right. However, two straight fly outs ended the threat at that point.

The game remained 13-4 in favor of Houghton until the bottom of the seventh.

With one out, Poshak drew a walk. Issacson walked. Wilks then singled to left, scoring Poshak. Third baseman Kaydence Christopherson struck out before pitcher Danni Stites singled to third. Issacson scored, but Wilks was tagged trying for third, ending the inning and the game.

Hainault went the distance in the circle for Houghton to earn the win. She struck out seven, walked six, and gave up 10 hits.

Stites took the loss in a complete game as well. She struck out two, walked four, and surrendered 12 hits.

In the nightcap, the Copper Kings struck first in the bottom of the first inning. Erkkila singled to lead off. Stites walked. Two batters later, Poshak singled to right field, scoring Stites.

Houghton responded with three runs in the top of the second. It all started with two outs, as Schlief drew a walk. Left fielder Katia Rudak walked. Salmi singled to second, loading the bases. Pietila then tripled to right field, clearing the bases.

Calumet scored three times in the bottom of the third to regain the lead. Coppo had a one-out double to left field. Poshak brought her home with a single to center. Two batters later, Amiina Tarnowski walked. Garrow scored on a passed ball before Maddie Myhren singled to center, scoring Tarnowski.

The Copper Kings added another run in the fifth. Tarnowski got things started with a single to left field. Two batters later, Cara Halonen walked. Abby Bausano grounded out, but Tarnowski scored on the play anyway.

In the top of the sixth, Houghton evened things with two runs. Mattson got it started with a single to center to lead off. Two batters later, Burns walked. Mattson scored on a wild pitch. Nettell reached first on a dropped third strike, and Burns scored, tying things at 5-5.

Calumet had one last chance in the bottom of the seventh to get the win, but two ground outs sandwiched around a line out, ended the inning and the game.