MARQUETTE — The Marquette Senior High School softball team got its weekend off to a good start with a sweep at Sault Ste. Marie on Friday, but ran into some tough opposition downstate at the Boyne City Varsity Invitational the following day.

The Sentinels put on their hitting shoes to defeat the Soo 11-7 and 22-8, but had a lot harder time in the three games played just over the Mackinac Bridge on Saturday, falling to Plymouth Christian Academy 10-0, the host Ramblers 6-2 and Clare 15-1.

The Marquette players don’t have much time to think about the tough outing with a busy week coming up. After the Sentinels hosted Escanaba in a Monday doubleheader, they travel to Menominee for what is listed as a single game at 2:30 p.m. EDT Wednesday, then host Kingsford in another twinbill at 4:30 p.m. Thursday.

Here are details from this past weekend:

Marquette 11, Sault Ste. Marie 7

In Friday’s opener, the Sentinels’ Eva Dewitt drove in five runs while going 3 of 4 at the plate, including a double, as Marquette built a 10-0 lead in the middle of the third inning.

The Blue Devils got three runs back in the bottom of the third, then plated another four in the bottom of the sixth and final inning before that last rally fizzled.

Charlye Swajanen went the distance on the pitching rubber for MSHS, allowing seven runs — but only one earned — on 10 hits, all singles, as she walked three and struck out eight. The unearned runs were mostly due to five errors committed by Marquette fielders.

Swajanen and teammate Layla Roman each went 2 of 3 at the plate, with Roman picking up two RBIs. The Sentinels’ Cece Fuller also had two RBIs while scoring three runs as she was officially only 1 for 1 after getting hit by a pitch three times.

Teammate Sammi Trapani was 1 of 4 with an RBI and run scored, while Alexa Whaley was 1 of 1 but scored two runs as she was hit by a pitch and stole a base.

Starter Dani Bergeron took the loss for the Soo, starting and going two innings as she allowed six runs, all earned, on five hits as she didn’t walk anyone, hit four batters and fanned four.

Dewitt got Marquette started with a two-run single in the first inning, then she and Fuller each brought in more runs with RBI doubles in the second. Then Trapani, Dewitt and Roman each knocked in runs with singles in the third.

Marquette 22, Sault Ste. Marie 8

In Friday’s nightcap, the Sentinels did most of their damage in a nine-run first inning and eight-run fourth to end this game after five innings due to the 10-run rule.

MSHS built an 11-0 lead in the third before the Blue Devils scored four runs in the bottom of third. But Marquette immediately answered with their second big outburst of eight runs in its next at-bat to all but put the game away.

Fuller was the recipient of her teammates’ big outburst, getting the pitching win as she went all five innings, giving up eight runs — only two earned — on four hits as she walked two and struck out three.

Marquette again had fielding issues, this time committing eight errors. But their 22-4 advantage in hits more than made up for it.

Swajanen led the way, going 4 of 5 with a double, three RBIs and three runs scored. Fuller and Lauren Johnson each went 3 of 3, Fuller hitting two doubles, getting three RBIs and scoring twice, while Johnson knocked in two runs and scored once.

Four more Sentinels had two hits apiece — Dewitt, Roman, Lily Smigiel and Halle Haynes — as Dewitt doubled and had four RBIs, two runs scored, a walk and was hit by a pitch.

Roman had three RBIs and Haynes and Smigiel two RBIs each as Haynes scored four times and Smigiel once.

Plymouth 10, Marquette 0

In Saturday’s opener at the Boyne Invite, Plymouth Christian Academy got to Swajanen right away with four runs in each of the first two innings as the Sentinels could manage just four hits, including a triple by Fuller and double by Johnson.

Swajanen went all five innings, allowing 10 runs — four earned — on nine hits, two walks and five hit batsmen as she struck out six.

Marquette again had fielding problems, this game committing four errors to none for Plymouth.

Fuller actually went 2 of 2, singling in her other at-bat as Roman also had a single.

Mariah Wright and Chloe Paryaski led PCA with two hits, each hitting a double as the team had four two-base hits.

Boyne City 6, Marquette 2

In Saturday’s second game, Marquette led for most of the game, scoring the only run by either team in the first three innings when Roman hit an RBI single in the bottom of the first.

The Ramblers’ Lexi Katz tied the game with an RBI groundout in the top of the fourth before Boyne City added four more in the fifth when the Sentinels committed their only two errors. After Boyne got one more run in the top of the sixth and final inning, Marquette answered with one run in the bottom of the sixth.

Roman and Haynes each had two hits, each hit a double and each scored a run as Haynes also stole a base. Dewitt added a single while walking twice.

Fuller started and went five innings, allowing five runs — only two earned — on seven hits and two walks as she fanned three. Swajanen pitched the final inning, allowing an earned run on a hit while fanning two.

Clare 15, Marquette 1

In the wrapup on Saturday in Boyne City, despite the final score, Marquette scored first in its initial at-bat, Dewitt doubling to knock home a run.

But Clare got to Swajanen after that in a game that lasted just four innings. Swajanen gave up 15 runs — only eight earned as MSHS committed five errors — on 10 hits and six walks as she K’d one.

Johnson came on to get the final out, putting up zeroes across the board.

With Clare scoring two runs in the first inning, six in the second, three in the third and four in the fourth, Alissa Brandon and Breez Yarger each had two hits for the Pioneers, while Yarger and Madison Jones both collected three RBIs.

Dewitt went 2 for 2 for the Sentinels with a double and an RBI, while Haynes, Swajanen and Ava Hanford each had a single.

Story contents based on emails received from MSHS softball representative Bill Finkbeiner with some information generated by GameChanger Media. Journal Sports Editor Steve Brownlee’s email address is sbrownlee@miningjournal.net.