Westwood’s Megan Pohlman pitches to Norway Thursday afternoon, May 11, 2017, at the Tilden Township field. (Journal photo by Rachel Oakley)

ISHPEMING — The Westwood Patriots earned a 12-11 walk off win in dramatic fashion over Norway in the second game of their doubleheader to earn a split Thursday evening in Ishpeming.

After a trouncing 20-8 loss to the Knights in game one where Norway scored 13 runs in the top of the seventh, Westwood’s Katie Wiljanen was the walk-off hero in game two.

With two outs and runners in scoring position, Wiljanen nailed a line drive past Norway’s center fielder which rolled to the fence, easily scoring the Patriots baserunners to close out the win.

Wiljanen said her team never lost hope in the game which saw six lead changes.

“We knew we wanted it, everyone knew we were hitting well and we would have our chances,” Wiljanen said. “I was just watching for my (pitch) and just hit it.”

The Patriots’ bats came alive early in the bottom of the second inning as Marissa Carello stepped to the plate with the bases loaded and hit a grounder through the first and second base gap to put the Patriots up 2-1.

Moments later, Shae Blewett rocked a home run to deep center field, extending the Patriots lead to 6-1.

But no lead was safe in the game and neither team ever gave up their fight. Just one inning later the Knights responded with five runs of their own to tie the game 6-6.

Madelyn Koski, who was moved to third base for the Patriots in the doubleheader due to team injuries, hit a crucial single in the bottom of the third to drive home Raija Stille, than Megan Pohlman would also score for the home team in the third to regain a 8-6 lead.

Norway once again tied the match with back-to-back triples from Jada Lasater and Ada VanHolla in the fourth, but the long ball helped the Patriots answer with a two-run homer from Stille in the bottom of the inning to go ahead 10-8.

The Knights tested their power at the plate and got a two-run home run of their own from Britta Grayvold in the top of the sixth inning, but her heroics would be spoiled in the bottom of the seventh when Wiljanen big hit.

Westwood head coach Heather Salmi said her girls weren’t phased by the ever-changing lead.

“I was pleased our girls kept fighting,” Salmi said. “Every time we scored, (Norway) would tie it. It’s one of those games that comes down to the last play, and it was big for our girls to get on early and set up Katie to get a tough hit.”

Norway head coach Robert Bal was unavailable for comment following the doubleheader.

Salmi pointed to mistakes in the first game for building points for the team moving forward.

“We’re still working on baserunning and errors,” she said. “We can compete with anyone, and when we get the little things worked out we will be at even higher level.”

Ray Bressette can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 251. His email address is rbressette@miningjournal.net.