As one might expect, the teams split, with the Gremlins winning the conference matchup, 17-11, before the Miners held on to win the nonleague nightcap, 6-5.

Houghton committed seven errors over the course of the opening game, and yet, the Miners could not take advantage of that plus nine hits and a walk.

“First game, that was a high-scoring game,” Gremlins coach Mel Baker said. “Lots of errors on both sides. There were a lot of nerves involved, since both teams knew what was at stake with the conference. It was actually kind of an ugly first game, but we gritted through it and figured out how to win again.”

While she was all smiles about coming away with the win, Miners coach Randy Carlson was not so thrilled.

“We were playing well coming in here … and I was hoping that this was going to be kind of a week to build up for districts, and (I am) just disappointed overall,” he said. “The first game, (we) put 13 runners on with … 11 walks and two hit by pitch.

“You just can’t do it. It’s just 17 runs. We haven’t given up 17 in a doubleheader, usually. It’s just frustrating.

“The weather wasn’t ideal, but that’s no excuse.”

Carlson was pleased with how his team performed offensively, but not so much with its defense.

“For the most part, we hit the ball pretty well,” he said. “You score 11 runs, you should win games. That’s the thing, I’m not going to say anything about our offense. I think our offense did their job. We just gave up too many free bases.”

In that game, the Miners struck for two runs in the top of the first. Delaney Gladwell singled to left to lead off and scored on a passed ball. Cassie Feys reached on an error, then Miya Frederickson singled to right. Rheana Nelson made it to first on a dropped third strike and the bases were loaded for Alyssa Borlace, who immediately drew a walk to score Feys.

Houghton responded quickly. Center fielder Romi Mattson and right fielder Kenzie Collard singled, the latter for an RBI, while Collard scored on an error.

Pitcher Stella Soumis drew a walk, shortstop Kia Markham reached on an error and Josie Switzer was hit by a pitch to load the bases. First baseman Reagan Moyle singled, scoring two for a Gremlins’ 4-2 lead.

The Miners evened things 4-4 in the top of the second.

The game remained there until the bottom of third, when Houghton’s offense exploded. Left fielder Emmy Pietila walked to load the bases, then Mattson walked to score a run before Collard hit a base-clearing triple to right for an 8-4 advantage. One more came in on a passed ball to make it 9-4.

Negaunee had a big inning of its own in the fourth. Gladwell singled, Megan Marker hit an RBI triple to center, then Schultz grounded out to score Marker.

Feys and Frederickson reached on back-to-back errors, the second one scoring Feys. Frederickson scored on a passed ball, while Nelson reached on an error and scored on a groundout to even the game 9-9.

Houghton responded again, this time taking the lead for good.

A Markham single, walk and hit batter loaded the bases to start the bottom of the fourth. They were followed by two fielder’s choices and an error, each scoring a run to make it 12-9 Gremlins.

Negaunee fought back, but was never was able to even the score again. In the top of the fifth, Theresa Anderson reached on an error and Gladwell singled, then two batters later, they scored on an error to suddenly pull the visitors within 12-11.

For the Gremlins in the bottom of the inning, three walks and an error actually didn’t produce a run, but one did score on a passed ball before another walk reloaded the bases. Hainault then hit a two-run single to center, and after another error, Collard hit a line drive RBI single to center for a 16-11 cushion.

Soumis went six innings to earn the win in the pitcher’s circle. She struck out one, walked one and gave up nine hits.

In the nightcap, Gladwell led off for Negaunee by getting hit by a pitch from Mattson. Two batters later, Frederickson singled. Feys then singled to center field, scoring Gladwell.

Houghton answered in the bottom of the first when Mattson, Collard and Markham all singled to score a run.

The game remained 1-1 entering the third. Anderson walked to lead off for the Miners. Gladwell followed with a double to right. Marker lined out, but Anderson scored. Frederickson then grounded out, but Gladwell scored and Negaunee led 3-1.

In the fifth, the Miners found another run when Anderson singled to left and later scored on a wild pitch.

Houghton responded with two runs in the bottom of the inning. Hainault drilled a ball to right for an inside-the-park home run. Mattson then doubled to left and Collard an RBI single that cut the Miners’ edge to just 4-3.

The Gremlins then tied it 4-4 in the sixth when Markham singled and worked her way around until she stole home.

The Miners got to work in the seventh for the final push to earn the split. After Ainsley Brunette was hit by a pitch, Marker hit an RBI triple to right. Alyse Robar was hit by a pitch, scoring on an error to make it 6-4 Negaunee.

Houghton had one last chance. Hainault led off the bottom of the seventh with a single to right. Two batters later, Collard singled, advancing Hainault to third and giving the Gremlins runners on the corners. Hainault stole home and after Soumis reached, Markham sacrificed to put both runners into scoring position.

However, Switzer lined out to end the threat and the game.