By Journal Sports Staff

MANISTIQUE — The Ishpeming High School varsity softball team picked up a doubleheader road sweep with 13-3 and 14-0 victories over Manistique on Monday night. The Hematites’ one-two punch on the mound of Hailey Hytinen and Tia Mattila combined for 18 strikeouts to push Ishpeming above the .500 mark at 7-6, as well as a 3-3 record in Mid-Peninsula Conference play.

Hytinen fanned six in the opener, while Mattila struck out 12 in the nightcap, allowing just one hit and one walk in the five-inning mercy-rule Game 2 victory.

“The pitchers pitched well,” Ishpeming head coach Ben McGuire said. “Our defense was outstanding and we hit the ball hard. We’re making progress, our freshmen are playing well and that’s exactly what we need right now.”

Mattila also contributed at the plate, going 6 for 8 over both games. Hytinen was also 3 for 3 in Game 1, while Berkli Asgaard went 5 for 8 on the evening.

Ishpeming visits Hancock on Thursday for a doubleheader beginning at 4 p.m.

———————

Marquette 3-15, Rapid River 7-8

At Rapid River, Natalie Belanger tossed a two-hitter in the first game of a doubleheader as the Rockets defeated the Redettes 7-3.

Belanger struck out 11 and walked one. Riley Edwardson had two hits and Myah Pearson added a two-run double to give the Rockets a 3-0 lead in the fifth inning.

Marquette won the second game 15-8.

Belanger had two hits, drove in two runs and scored twice in the nightcap. Pearson also had two hits and Madi LaChance added a two-run single. Cecilia Pilon, who absorbed the loss, fanned three and allowed 13 hits.

“Having lost two doubleheaders last week due to weather, we have not played a game in 10 days,” said Rockets’ coach George Kanyuh. “I thought we responded well to the layoff and the girls played hard through both games tonight.”

Marquette’s Game 2 victory was also its second victory of the season. Amanda McIntire took the mound in both games for the Redettes, striking out 13 over both games. Marquette also cranked out 13 hits in the Game 2 victory.

“Amanda has been improving all year long,” MSHS coach Paul Seibert said. “Her walk total is down. The girls are getting better. I think we ran into a solid pitcher (Belanger) in Game 1 that cost us some runs. We made some mental mistakes there but we eliminated those and got calmer at the plate in Game 2.”

Sofia van den Ende went 3 for 4 with three RBIs in Game 2, while Madison Carter found the outside of the outfield fence as a good spot to hit the ball, knocking out a three-run homer as well as a double.

Marquette hosts Negaunee for a doubleheader on Wednesday, a make-up date from a rainout last week.

———————-

Negaunee 9-10, Westwood 2-12

At Westwood, the Miners and Patriots split their softball twinbill on Monday evening. No other information was available.

Information compiled by Journal Sports Writer Ryan Spitza with contributions from the Escanaba Daily Press. Email Spitza at sports@miningjournal.net.