Escanaba, Menominee Split Baseball Doubleheader

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ESCANABA---The Escanaba Eskymos and Menominee Maroons split a doubleheader Thursday night in Escanaba, with the Eskymos winning the opener, 4-2, and the Maroons taking the nightcap, 5-3.

Hunter Lancour had a two-run double in the bottom of the fourth inning to break a 2-2 tie in the opener for Escanaba. Lancour also had an RBI on a grounder that was missplayed by the Maroons' shortstop in the first inning.

Nick Kolich pitched all six innings to earn the win for Escanaba. He allowed two runs in the first inning, and both of the runs were unearned thanks to a defensive error. Kolich needed only 71 pitches to earn the win, and he threw 53 strikes among those 71 pitches. Kolich scattered six base hits, with Zach Starzynski getting two of those Meominee base hits.

Tyler Lawson ad Bryant Maki also had doubles for the Eskymos.

Starzynski pitched the entire game for Menominee, allowing four runs (one earned) on six hits. He did not walk a batter, and struck out three batters.

In the nightcap, Escanaba jumped to a 2-0 lead in the second inning on a two-run single up the middle by Lawson. He had three base hits in the game. But the Eskymos could nor get key hits with men in scoring position, and Menominee scored four runs in the fourth inning to take the lead against Eskymo pitcher Adam Willette.

Chad Kenney had a two-run single to tie the game, and the final two runs of the inning came home when Escanaba shortstop Ben Johnson missplayed a hard grounder.

Carter Berger had an RBI single in the fifth inning to give Menominee a 5-2 lead.

Escanaba scored an unearned run in the bottom of the fifth inning to cut the gap to 5-3, and the Eskymos got two men on base in the bottom of the sixth when Collin Arnt walked and Lancour singled. But Casey Bray, who ripped a double to the left field fence in his previous at-bat, flied out to right field to strand the two baserunners and end the game.

Berger pitched the whole game for Menominee, allowimg ten base hits but only three runs (two earned). He struck out five and walked three.

Willette took the loss, allowing four runs (zero earned) on four hits. Arnt pitched one inning in relief and also allowed an uneared run. Brett Schlenvogt pitched a scoreless final inning.

Menominee improved to 2-7 on the season. Escanaba is now 14-4.

Escanaba hosts Manistique Friday night at 7:30. The JV game will be at 5:30. The Eskymos will then host Gladstone on Parent's Night at 11:00 Saturday morning. All of the varsity games will be broadcast on FM-93.5, AM-600, and on-line at www.rrnsports.com.