The Miners employed the six-inning mercy rule in a 16-6 victory over Berrien Springs, then lost a tough 5-4 decision in the bottom of the seventh to the host Panthers, the 2024 MHSAA Division 3 state champions.

After having Tuesday’s home doubleheader against Superior Central canceled, Negaunee travels to Kingsford for what is listed as a single game today at 4 p.m. EDT. The Miners also travel to Iron Mountain for a doubleheader at 4 p.m. EDT Monday.

Here are details from Watervliet:

Negaunee 16, Berrien Springs 6

Killean Ryan started and pitched three innings, only giving up one unearned run, to get the Miners off to a fast start after their long trip within 30 or 40 miles of the Indiana state line.

“Killean Ryan was locked in on the mound,” Negaunee manager Jason Siik said in an email detailing the games. “He has worked extremely hard this offseason and was well prepared for (this) start. The junior has continued to develop and progress on the mound.

“It was a challenge defensively being the first time on field this year due to the heavy snow and cold weather, but I thought we played as well as we could have, considering (the circumstances).”

There were a number of unearned runs in this early-season game as Negaunee committed three errors and Berrien Springs five.

Ryan didn’t allow a hit or walk while striking out eight. Carter Munson and Gavin Store followed. In 1 2/3 innings, Munson allowing three hits and a walk while fanning three and allowing six runs, five of them unearned. Store went 1 1/3 innings, not allowing a hit or a run while walking one and striking out one.

Negaunee jumped out to a 10-1 lead after three innings, scoring in every inning to keep the Shamrocks at bay even after they started to come back in the fourth.

Owen Cardinal led Miners’ hitters, going 2 for 4 with a double, four RBIs, three runs scored, a walk and a stolen base. Teammate Devin Jurmu was 2 for 3 with two RBIs, three runs, a walk and two steals, while Ethan Juntti drew four walks as the Miners collected 11 altogether, along with stealing nine bases.

After Jurmu bunted in a run in the opening inning, Negaunee scored six times in the second on just two hits. A pair of errors brought in three runs, while Jurmu hit an RBI single and Aiden Steele a two-run double.

Cardinal hit an RBI double in the third and sacrifice fly in the fourth.

Watervliet 5, Negaunee 4

In Saturday’s second game, the host Panthers scored three runs in the bottom of the seventh after Negaunee took the lead with two runs in the sixth and added an insurance run in the top of the seventh.

Watervliet began its winning rally with a double by Cayden Ryan and RBI single by Tyler Jarvis before back-to-back errors brought home the tying and game-ending runs.

That made Jurmu the hard-luck losing pitcher as he went just one-third of an inning and allowed two hits and a walk while striking out one.

Cardinal started and went a masterful six innings, allowed two runs — one unearned — on six hits and he walked one and K’d 10.

Cardinal also went 1 for 2 at the plate, collecting an RBI, taking two walks and stealing two bases. Store was also 1 for 2, scoring twice and walking two times. Jurmu and teammate Brayden Gleason also had a hit.

“It felt like we played much better baseball in the second game,” Siik said even as his fielders committed four errors. “Getting some of the anxiety of being on the field for the first time was evident.

“Owen pitched well and looks poised to have an extremely strong senior year. He commanded his pitches and worked well with catcher Morgan Robar.

“Hopefully the weather can cooperate so we can get on a field sooner than later.”

After Jurmu knocked in Brayden Gleason with an RBI single for the game’s first run, the Miners erased a 2-1 deficit with runs scored by Store and Mason Swenor on errors in the sixth.

Story contents based on email received from (person). Journal Sports Editor Steve Brownlee’s email address is sbrownlee@miningjournal.net.