NEGAUNEE — Superior Central needed a game to get its legs under it, but Negaunee was still able to prevail for a high school baseball doubleheader sweep on Wednesday.

Playing on what Miners’ coach Jason Siik called “a moist field,” NHS prevailed 11-1 in four innings and 13-12 in six.

Final Negaunee pitcher Carter Richardson, who’s not normally a pitcher but was called in due to pitch-count problems for other hurlers, stranded the tying run on third base when the nightcap ended with a pop fly to centerfielder Jake Hill.

“We definitely hit the ball better than we’ve had,” Siik said, “but we left a lot of guys on base.

“The things we’ve been working the most on, you definitely saw a difference today.”

In the opener, the Miners (3-9) scored eight runs in the third and held SC off the board in the fourth to invoke the mercy rule.

Winning pitcher Tanner Peterson started and went 3 1/3 innings, allowing a single run on three hits as he struck out four and walked three.

“He’s been a horse for us,” Siik said about Peterson carrying the pitching load.

Despite Siik’s lamentations, Negaunee made the most of four hits, which included doubles by Alex Munson, Carter Richardson and Jake Ennett in the big third that knocked in a total of six runs.

SC pitchers walked 10 and the defense committed four errors. Starter and losing hurler Eli Werner went only 1 1/3 innings, allowing three runs on no hits with six walks and 2 Ks.

Ennett was 2 of 3 with an RBI and two runs, Richardson had three RBIs and scored twice, while Munson knocked in two and scored once.

The Cougars’ Anthony Mattson had a double, Zach Englund a single and RBI and Kyle Frusti a single and run scored.

In the nightcap, Negaunee built a 9-0 lead after 3 1/2 innings. While SC never caught the Miners, twice they came within a run, the first time 9-8 after four.

With darkness descending and the rain restarting, this game was rather sloppy with 18 walks issued and 10 errors committed between the teams.

Eric Anderson pitched 3 1/3 innings and got the win, allowing one run on three hits with three walks while fanning four. Frusti was tagged with the loss as he gave up nine runs — five earned — on six hits with six walks and two Ks.

NHS’ Tylor Robinson was 3 for 3 with a triple, two RBIs and three runs scored, while Anderson was 2 for 3 with two RBIs and a stolen base.

Siik said Jake Hill sparked the Negaunee offense with four stolen bases, including a pair in the first inning that was followed by him scoring on a passed ball. In all, Hill was 1 for 3 with an RBI, two runs scored and two walks.

Negaunee hosts its own Negaunee Invitational on Saturday, opening with a game against L’Anse at 10 a.m. Other teams competing are Iron Mountain and Calumet.

Information compiled by Journal Sports Editor Steve Brownlee. His email address is sbrownlee@miningjournal.net.