Negaunee sophomore Alyse Robar pitches in a game played at Alpena on May 3. (Photo courtesy Miya Frederickson)

MARQUETTE — The Negaunee High School softball finished its regular season with a big scoring display, sweeping a home doubleheader from Calumet on Tuesday, 13-0 and 17-11.

The Miners’ next game or games are on Friday at Kingsford in the MHSAA Division 2 district tournament. Negaunee opens against Kingsford at noon EDT, then with a win, would advance to the district championship game immediately after at 2:30 p.m. EDT against either Houghton or the host Flivvers.

Here are details from Tuesday:

Negaunee 13, Calumet 0

In the opener, Alyse Robar struck out 13 as she pitched all five innings and allowed no runs on just one hit and no walks. Her defense didn’t commit an error, either.

The Miners put the result out of reach with an eight-run second inning. Megan Marker had the big blow, a two-run double, while Robar and teammates Natalie Pantti, Ainsley Brunette and Delaney Gladwell each drew bases-loaded walks; Brielle Anderson was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to bring one home; and Olivia Richards also collected an RBI on a groundout.

Prior to that in the first inning, four runs came home when Marker, Pantti and Brunette all drew bases-loaded walks, and Anderson was hit by a pitch that also brought a run home.

Danni Stites took the pitching loss for the Copper Kings, going 1 1/3 innings and surrendering 10 runs — eight earned — on no hits but with nine walks as she K’d two.

Marker finished 2 of 3 with three RBIs, while Pantti, Gladwell, Brunette and Richards each drew two walks, and Marker and Richards each had multiple stolen bases.

Molly Erkkila had Calumet’s lone hit.

Negaunee 17, Calumet 11

In the nightcap, the Miners needed all the runs they could muster in a big comeback, collecting 14 hits as the Copper Kings had seven.

Richards earned the pitching victory, going 5 2/3 innings and allowing eight runs, seven earned, on five hits and seven walks as she fanned 11. Gladwell and Brunette each worked in relief as the Negaunee defense also turned a double play.

Stites again took the loss for Calumet, going 3 1/3 innings and giving up six runs on four hits and three walks as she struck out four.

Pantti, batting No. 8 in the order, was 2 of 4 with five RBIs, while Gladwell and teammate Cassie Feys each had three hits and stole multiple bases. Richards also went 2 of 4.

Chloe Coppo hit a solo homer for Calumet in the opening inning, then the visitors added four more in the second on a grand slam by Bethany Garrow, and another in the third with a Jailyn Poshak steal of home for a 6-0 lead.

But Negaunee answered with a six-spot on just three hits in the fourth to tie it. Pantti hit a two-run double and Feys an RBI double, while Robar brought a run in when hit by a pitch as two more scored on wild pitches.

The Miners took the lead an inning later with four more runs, the big blow Pantti’s two-run double.

And Negaunee kept scoring in the seventh, adding five more with the big blows Marker’s two-run double, Richards’ RBI double and Brunette’s RBI single.

Story contents based on an email received from Negaunee softball representative Steph Robar. Journal Sports Editor Steve Brownlee’s email address is sbrownlee@miningjournal.net.