Negaunee junior Megan Marker swings at a pitch during the Miners’ high school softball game played against Hancock in Negaunee on Wednesday. (Photo courtesy Miya Frederickson)

NEGAUNEE — The Negaunee High School softball team posted a trio of victories over visiting Copper Country schools this week.

On Monday, the Miners swept Houghton 11-1 and 9-3, while on Wednesday, NHS posted a 12-5 victory over Hancock.

Negaunee has one more regular-season date remaining, hosting Calumet for a doubleheader at 4 p.m. Tuesday, before opening MHSAA Division 2 district tournament play at noon EDT next Friday in Kingsford, facing Escanaba in the semifinals.

If the Miners defeat Esky, they would advance to the district championship game at the same site at 2:30 p.m. EDT that day.

Here are details from this week’s victories:

Negaunee 11, Houghton 1

In Monday’s opener, Alyse Robar picked up the pitching victory, allowing one run on just two hits over five innings as she didn’t walk anyone while striking out nine. Houghton’s Ellie Hainault took the loss, going four innings and giving up 11 runs — seven earned — on 13 hits and a walk as she fanned four.

Negaunee’s Olivia Richards provided all the offense Robar needed, going 3 for 3 with a triple in the first inning, a single in the second and a double in the fourth. She collected two RBIs, as did teammates Natalie Pantti and Cassie Feys.

Robar also had three hits at the plate as her defense didn’t commit an error.

Despite the big output, the game was close early. Feys doubled to put the Miners up 1-0 in the bottom of the first, but the Gremlins answered with a Romi Mattson homer to right field in the top of the second to tie it.

But Negaunee broke things open in the bottom of the second with four runs for a 5-1 lead, including a Delaney Gladwell RBI double, Richards RBI single and two-run error.

Two more came home in the third on a Robar RBI double and Richards RBI single.

Mattson finished 2 for 2 for Houghton as she also stole two bases.

Negaunee 9, Houghton 3

In Monday’s nightcap, Ainsley Brunette worked all seven innings on the pitching rubber for Negaunee, giving up three runs — though just one earned — on three hits and no walks with 5 K’s.

Josie Switzer took the loss for the Gremlins, going six innings as she gave up nine runs, just four earned, on 10 hits and a walk as she fanned four.

Richards again led the Miners’ offense, going 2 for 2 with three RBIs. Pantti, Gladwell and teammates Rheana Nelson and Brielle Anderson also had two hits, Gladwell also making three steals. Mattson had a hit and RBI for Houghton.

Negaunee scored three times in the first inning, runs coming in on a Richards sacrifice bunt, error and Pantti RBI single, then increased it to 4-0 in the third after a sac fly by Feys.

Negaunee 12, Hancock 5

In Wednesday’s single game, Negaunee had to mount a big comeback after the Bulldogs scored all five of their runs in the top of the first inning on a Kaelyn Rouleau two-run triple, Emery Chynoweth RBI single and a two-run error.

But the Miners answered with seven runs in the fourth to take the lead. The rally included a Pantti three-run double and Nelson RBI single, along with a fielder’s choice and two errors each scoring a run.

Robar was the recipient of her teammates’ comeback to get the pitching win, as she didn’t allow a run on just one hit and one walk in six innings, striking out nine. Brunette started and gave up five runs, three earned, in one inning.

Lucy Biekkola took the loss for Hancock, going six innings as she surrendered 12 runs — five earned — on 12 hits and two walks as she K’d six.

Pantti, Gladwell, Robar and Megan Marker each had two hits for Negaunee, with Pantti and Gladwell each collecting three RBIs.

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