MARQUETTE — With wins over Superior Central and Menominee and losses to Homer and Escanaba, the Hancock Bulldogs softball team split their weekend at the Superior Dome in Marquette during the Spring Swing this past weekend.

In their tournament opener on Friday, the Bulldogs got two innings each out of Sydnie Scholie and Diem Kilpela and gave up just two hits in the victory over Superior Central. Scholie got the start, giving up one hit and two walks, while striking out three. Kilpela pitched a pair in relief, giving up one hit and two walks as well, striking out two.

Superior Central scored first in the top of the first inning. Hancock responded quickly in the bottom half.

Sophie Freeman drew a lead off walk. She got to third on a sacrifice fly by Brook Koskela. Sadie Biekkola then hit a fly ball, but reached first on an error. Before the play came to an end, Freeman had scored, and Biekkola reached third on another defensive error. Scholie then singled down the first base line, which scored Biekkola and put Hancock up 2-0.

In the bottom of the second, Alice Larson led off with a walk. Romey Koskela reached on a bunt, which gave Larson a chance to get to third, putting runners on the corners. Two batters later, Freeman tripled to left field, knocking in both runners.

Freeman then stole home with Brooke Koskela at the plate, who then singled. Sadie Biekkola popped one up, but she reached first on a defensive error, which moved Koskela to third. Scholie then hit a sacrifice fly, which scored Koskela. Mallory Sporalski then homered to left field, scoring Scholie as well, putting Hancock up 8-1 after two innings.

Like she had in the second inning, Larson walked to open the bottom of the third. Romey Koskela then walked, putting runners on the corners. Emily L’Esperance then hit a pop fly, but she reached first on a defensive error. Larson scored on the play. Freeman followed with a sacrifice bunt to score Koskela.

Brooke Koskela walked. Sadie Biekkola then hit a hard ground ball towards third and reached on an error. L’Esperance scored on the play. Kilpela walked to load the bases. Two batters later, Lucy Biekkola walked, scoring Koskela and putting the Bulldogs up 12-1, which was the final score.

Sadie Biekkola took the mound in the Bulldogs’ second game of the weekend against Homer. She was strong, going four innings, giving up three hits and two walks while striking out three. Lucy Biekkola then pitched an inning in relief, giving up four hits in her varsity debut, and striking out one.

Homer scored three runs in the third inning to take a 3-0 lead into the fifth. Needing a spark, the Bulldogs turned to Vaeda Brooks, who singled to lead off. She got to second before the play came to an end. She was moved to third on a sacrifice bunt by Larson two batters later. Then, Brooks scored on a passed ball with Freeman at the plate.

However, Homer got that run back in the bottom half of the inning to earn a 4-1 win.

Against the Maroons on Saturday, Lucy Biekkola made her first career start, going two innings with two strikeouts. She gave up no hits or walks. Kilpela pitched one inning in relief, giving up one hit.

Hancock got things started immediately in the top of the first as Brooke Koskela earned a lead-off walk. She stole second and then got to third on a Lucy Biekkola sacrifice fly. Sadie Biekkola then singled to bring Koskela home.

Sadie Biekkola then scored when she stole home with Kilpela at the plate to put the Bulldogs up 2-0.

In the top of the second, Hancock started the same way they did the first, with Romey Koskela drawing a walk. Tatum Sporalski then walked. Tia Pelto grounded out, but Koskela scored on the play. While the ball was still live, Sporalski scored on a defensive error.

Brooke Koskela reached on an error and was then brought home by Lucy Biekkola, who singled. Sadie Biekkola then singled before Scholie walked to load the bases. With Kilpela at the plate, Lucy Biekkola scored on a passed ball. Kilpela then singled, and Sadie Biekkola scored, making it 7-0 Hancock.

L’Esperance walked, followed by Romey Koskela. Scholie scored on a passed ball. Tatum Sporalski doubled to left field, which scored L’Esperance and Koskela. Pelto walked and Brooke Koskela followed with a ground ball. She reached on an error, and both Romey Koskela and Sporalski scored on the play.

Sadie Biekkola singled to center field two batters later, scoring Pelto. Scholie singled to knock in Brooke Koskela and put the game out of reach at 14-0.

In the final game of the tournament, the Bulldogs gave up two runs in the first inning and then eight more in the third, fourth, and fifth combined, in a 10-1 loss to Escanaba.

Sadie Biekkola went four innings in the pitcher’s circle, giving up nine hits and walking five. She struck out two. Lucy Biekkola threw a third of an inning in relief, giving up two hits and two runs.

Hancock trailed 3-0 in the top of the fourth before they got on the board.

Freeman led off with a double to left field. She advanced to third on a sacrifice by Brooke Koskela. Sadie Biekkola then singled to second, and Freeman scored on the play to make it 3-1 Escanaba.

The Eskymos scored seven more runs before the game ended.

Scholie had the other Bulldogs hit in the game.

UP NEXT

Hancock is off until Saturday, April 12, when they are scheduled to travel to face Crivitz.