ESCANABA — The Marquette Blues bounced back from an opening-game setback to defeat the Copper Country Flames 8-0 on Friday afternoon in the American Legion Zone tournament being held in Escanaba and Gladstone this week.

The Blues began the tourney with a 1-0 loss to one of the home teams, the Escanaba Cubs.

Against CC, Marquette pitcher Erik Johnson threw a two-hit, complete game shutout, allowing just a pair of singles and one walk while he struck out eight. The Hancock-based team didn’t get its first baserunner and first hit until the fourth inning.

Because of Johnson’s masterful performance, the Blues got all the offense they needed in the first inning when Johnson singled and Jakob Peterson brought him home with a double for a 1-0 lead.

Parker Maki singled in the second, moving to third on an error and passed ball before a ground out brought him home.

Marquette all but put the game away in the fourth with three runs, making it 5-0, with the big hit an RBI double by Maki.

And the final three runs came home in the sixth on an RBI single by Peter VandenAvond and two-run double by Peterson.

Maki finished 2 for 2 with an RBI and two runs scored, while Peterson was 2 for 4, both hits doubles, with three RBIs.

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Escanaba 1, Blues 0

On Thursday, Grant LaMarche picked up the pitching win for the Cubs by giving up just one hit and two walks while striking out 13. Dakota Maki took the loss in relief for the Blues.

LaMarche and Marquette’s Justin Wenk had a great duel on the mound before Wenk got pulled after 4 2/3 innings. He struck out five Cubs and gave up just two hits.

Escanaba scored the only run of the game in the bottom of the sixth when Nick Kolich scored on a fielder’s choice off the bat of Jack McEvers. Jakob Peterson had Marquette’s lone hit.

Information compiled by Journal Sports Editor Steve Brownlee and Journal Sports Writer Ryan Stieg. Email them at sports@miningjournal.net.