ALPENA — Marquette lost two of three games at the Alpena Tournament over the weekend, but players could still return home with a good taste in their mouths after finishing with a walk-off victory over Sault Ste. Marie on Saturday.

The Redmen scored four runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to pull out a thrilling 6-5 victory over the Blue Devils. They gave up the same number of runs in the top of the inning that erased their 2-1 advantage.

“We were playing real well and then we shot ourselves in the foot again,” MSHS assistant coach Randy Larson said. “A couple walks, an error and a bunt and it got exciting. After the inning I got the kids together and told them to settle down and keep working hard and good things will happen. ‘You guys have worked so hard this weekend and good things will happen.’

“Going into the bottom of the seventh, I told them that we have had runners in scoring position every inning and you need to ask yourself ‘Why not us?’ It’s our turn to have a walk-off win and we’re going to get it done.”

Jake Peterson started the final Redmen rally drawing a walk before Peter VandenAvond hit a fly ball that was dropped. Connor Steer worked another walk that would’ve loaded the bases, except Peterson was stealing third on the final pitch of Steer’s at bat and the ball was thrown into the outfield so that Peterson could score.

Tanner Judd laid down a bunt for a single and a throwing error on the play allowed VandenAvond to score from second base and Steer to advance to third, pulling Marquette within one at 5-4. Brady Wright then tied the game with a single to right field to score Steer and move Judd to third.

Still with just one out, Erik Johnson hit a deep fly ball for a sacrifice fly to score Judd and end the game.

Blake Henriksen led MSHS with two doubles and Peterson had one, while Steer, Judd and Wright each added singles.

Brendan Kaski started and went 5 2/3 innings, but didn’t get the decision as he allowed three earned runs on just one hit while walking seven and striking out seven. Jake Allard-Soucey came in for 1 1/3 innings and got the win. He gave up no hits while walking two and fanning two.

Making the all-tournament team were Henriksen, Johnson and Allard-Soucey.

Earlier Saturday, Marquette dropped a 12-0 mercy rule-shortened decision to Standish-Sterling.

“This game was closer than the score indicated,” Larson said. “It was 0-0 going into the third and we had two outs with bases empty.

“Two walks and a hit by pitch and an error and the floodgates opened. We couldn’t seem to settle ourselves down and get that third out. Before you know it, we had given up nine runs.”

Johnson had two hits and Jon Jason added another for MSHS as teammate Tanner Judd absorbed the loss despite giving up no earned runs. He did allow nine unearned runs on six hits while walking five and striking out one. Allard-Soucey came in and closed it out, allowing three runs on three hits with two walks and fanning two.

On Friday, the Redmen lost a tight 4-3 decision to the host Wildcats despite staking out a 3-0 lead in the third.

Johnson began the rally with a double to left center before Kaski singled. Henriksen then walked to load the bases with none out. Wild pitches scored Johnson and Kaski, while Henriksen trotted home on a balk.

Alpena answered in the fourth with a walk, botched pickoff attempt and error to score a run. The Redmen looked to answer in the top of the fifth after Peter VandenAvond led off with a double, but he was stranded at third.

The Wildcats then put together the winning rally in the bottom of the seventh, loading the bases with a single, hit batsman and error. Alpena knocked in two runs to tie it, forcing Marquette to pull in its infield with just one out. The strategy seemingly worked as a ball was hit to shortstop, but the relay home wasn’t good enough to get the lead runner to end the game.

“We had them on the ropes and just couldn’t find a way to close the door,” Larson said. “That happens sometimes. We need to keep learning from these games and good things will start happening.”

Allard-Soucey led MSHS with two hits, with one each coming from Johnson, Kaski and VandenAvond.

Henriksen started and threw four innings, allowing two hits and two walks while fanning six. Jason took the loss, coming in for the final 2 1/3 innings, striking out one, walking three and giving up three hits.

The Redmen return home for doubleheaders against Negaunee at 4 p.m. today and Escanaba at 4 p.m. Wednesday before heading downstate again Saturday for the Petoskey Invitational that will include the host Northmen, Midland Dow and Remus Chippewa Hills.

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