ESCANABA---It was the biggest battle of the Upper Peninsula high school softball season Monday afternoon as the Escanaba Eskymos hosted the Marquette Redettes.
Marquette came to town with a 23-2-1 record and the Eskymos, fresh off three wins over the weekend, came in at 24-2-1.
The two teams tied each other, 2-2, during a "timed" game at the Superior Dome, and the Redettes beat the Eskymos, 5-3, in another "timed" five-inning game at a tournament in Gladstone. On Monday, there were no time limits.
The Eskymos scored five runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to win the opener, 6-2. And the nightcap went extra innings before Escanaba completed the sweep, 3-2.
In the opener, it was a pitcher's duel, as expected, between Escanaba's Taylor Rathe and Marquette's Chelsea Wiggins.
Escanaba managed to get a run in the bottom of the first inning when Katie Ross squeezed home Callie Heller...and went to second on the play.
It stayed 1-0 all the way until the sixth inning as both pitcher's dominated. But in the sixth inning, the Redettes took the lead on a two-run single by Lindsey Ryba.
But in the bottom of the sixth, the Eskymos battled back. Rathe was hit by a pitch and Ross drew a walk to get things started.
Eskymo Coach Jamie Segorski pulled a gutsy double steal call, putting runners at second and third. That's when Wiggins uncorked a wild pitch that scored Rathe, and Ross kept running as the ball got away again.
It was 3-2 Eskymos. And the inning wasn't over, as Taylor Segorski later squeezed home pinch runner Malary Hiney to make it 4-2. Then Taylor Gauthier stepped up and launched a long two-run home run to center field, capping a big five-run inning.
In the second game, Escanaba jumped to an early 2-0 lead, but the Redettes tied it and threatened to take the lead in the top of the seventh inning.
Ross had pitched a beauty up until that point, but she was replaced by Rathe to try to get out of a jam. Segorski chose to intentionally walk two girls to load the bases, and Rathe struck out the next two batters, ending the threat and keeping the game tied.
The Eskymos had the hammer, but Wiggins kept up her strong pitching, striking out all three girls she faced, sending the game to extra innings. They lept playing as darkness started to fall, and Rathe won it with a bunt single in the bottom of the ninth inning.
It was a huge doubleheader sweep for the Eskymos, as the team begins a big week of softball. Escanaba hosts Gladstone in a doubleheader on Tuesday.
Game time is 4:00 for the opener. Tuesday's games will be broadcast live on WCHT-AM (600), and on-line at www.rrnsports.com.
Monday's junior varsity games between the Redettes and Eskymos were postponed until next week because Marquette was short of pitching.
Click the thumbnails in the ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS box above to see photos and videos from Monday's doubleheader.
Marquette came to town with a 23-2-1 record and the Eskymos, fresh off three wins over the weekend, came in at 24-2-1.
The Eskymos scored five runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to win the opener, 6-2. And the nightcap went extra innings before Escanaba completed the sweep, 3-2.
In the opener, it was a pitcher's duel, as expected, between Escanaba's Taylor Rathe and Marquette's Chelsea Wiggins.
Escanaba managed to get a run in the bottom of the first inning when Katie Ross squeezed home Callie Heller...and went to second on the play.
It stayed 1-0 all the way until the sixth inning as both pitcher's dominated. But in the sixth inning, the Redettes took the lead on a two-run single by Lindsey Ryba.
Eskymo Coach Jamie Segorski pulled a gutsy double steal call, putting runners at second and third. That's when Wiggins uncorked a wild pitch that scored Rathe, and Ross kept running as the ball got away again.
It was 3-2 Eskymos. And the inning wasn't over, as Taylor Segorski later squeezed home pinch runner Malary Hiney to make it 4-2. Then Taylor Gauthier stepped up and launched a long two-run home run to center field, capping a big five-run inning.
In the second game, Escanaba jumped to an early 2-0 lead, but the Redettes tied it and threatened to take the lead in the top of the seventh inning.
Ross had pitched a beauty up until that point, but she was replaced by Rathe to try to get out of a jam. Segorski chose to intentionally walk two girls to load the bases, and Rathe struck out the next two batters, ending the threat and keeping the game tied.
It was a huge doubleheader sweep for the Eskymos, as the team begins a big week of softball. Escanaba hosts Gladstone in a doubleheader on Tuesday.
Game time is 4:00 for the opener. Tuesday's games will be broadcast live on WCHT-AM (600), and on-line at www.rrnsports.com.
Monday's junior varsity games between the Redettes and Eskymos were postponed until next week because Marquette was short of pitching.
Click the thumbnails in the ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS box above to see photos and videos from Monday's doubleheader.
