By Journal Sports Staff

MANISTIQUE — It may have been cool outside, but the Ishpeming softball team’s bats were hot Saturday afternoon.

The Hematites scored 31 runs over the course of their doubleheader with Manistique and Ishpeming swept the twinbill 12-8 and 19-6.

“It was a very good day,” Ishpeming head coach Ben McGuire said. “Our young kids are starting to come around and we hit the ball really hard. Everybody got to play at lot and we’re getting better on defense too.”

Ishpeming (4-2) got going right away in the opener, plating four runs in the top of the first inning and then another five in the third.

Trailing 12-2 going into the bottom of the fifth, the Emeralds started to answer back at the plate. Manistique pushed across two runs in the frame and another four in the sixth, but couldn’t close the game any further.

Hailey Hytineau got the win in the circle for the Hematites as she gave up eight runs on 10 hits with six strikeouts and five walks. Brooke Richey was dealt the loss for Manistique after surrendering 12 runs and 12 hits, while striking out seven and giving up five walks.

Korey Kaukola led Ishpeming offensively, going 3 for 5, while Tia Mattila smacked a home run. Madison Pruett and Willow LaChapelle both had two hits for the Hematites. The Emeralds were led by Maddy Burton and Abby Burnham, who had two hits apiece.

While the first game was somewhat close, the nightcap was all Ishpeming. The Hematites picked up six runs in the first inning, and followed that up with four in the second and then eight more runs in the third. Manistique got four runs back in its half of the third, but the gap was far too much to overcome and the Emeralds fell in five innings.

Olivia Corp earned the win for Ishpeming as she pitched three innings and gave up five runs on two hits with 10 strikeouts and five walks.

Kaukola, Mattila and Berkli Asgaard each had two hits for the Hematites. Ishpeming hosts L’Anse on Monday.

Information compiled by Journal Sports Writer Ryan Stieg. His email address is rstieg@miningjournal.net.