Norway left fielder Emma Dube (13) tracks down a drive by an Escanaba slugger in the first game of a varsity softball twinbill on the Knights’ home diamond Thursday afternoon. Dube make a specular play, as the ball first glanced off her glove. But the outfielder kept her eye on the ball and gathered it in for the out, as shortstop Hannah Burklund (13) looked on. (Dennis Mansfield/Daily News photo)

NORWAY — The Norway girls softball team got an upclose look at why Escanaba is one of the top teams in Division 2, with the Eskymos sweeping a doubleheader on Norway’s home diamond Thursday.

The Knights didn’t go down without a fighting, battling Escanaba in a 6-0 loss in Game 1 of the twinbill.

The game was in doubt until the seventh inning when, already up 3-0, the Eskymos put 3 more runs on the board to put the game out of reach.

Kali Stanchina took to the mound for the Knights, pitching a complete game. She allowed 6 runs, 5 earned, on 10 hits and a walk, while striking out 2.

Norway struggled at the plate, tallying just 4 hits. Hannah Burklund had half of those hits, going 2 for 3. Mackenzie Gilroy (1-3) and Elizabeth Rometti (1-3) also had base knocks for the Knights.

Knights starting pitcher Kali Stanchina (26) winds up before letting loose a pitch in Game 1 of the doubleheader with Escanaba on Thursday. (Dennis Mansfield/Daily News photo)

Escanaba left no doubt who had the better team on Thursday in Game 2, pounding the Knights for a 14-0 victory in 5 innings. The Eskymos scored at least 2 runs in every inning, including putting up 5 runs in the fourth, in a 12-hit attack that was aided by 3 Knights’ errors that led to 6 unearned runs.

Meanwhile, Norway managed just one hit by Donna VanHolla (1-2).

Burklund started for the Knights and pitched 3 innings, allowing 7 runs, just 3 earned, on 5 hits and 2 walks. Emma Dube pitched the final 2 innings, also being charged with 7 runs, including 5 earned, on 7 hits and 4 walks.

HEMATITES 8, MOUNTAINEERS 1 (Game 1)

HEMATITES 12, MOUNTAINEERS 5 (Game 2)

Iron Mountain second baseman Macy Linsenbigler looks to take a throw and tag out an Ishpeming runner during Game 2 of a girls varsity softball doubleheader Thursday afternoon. (Dennis Mansfield/Daily News photo)

IRON MOUNTAIN — The host Iron Mountain softball squad struggled on its home diamond Thursday, dropping both games of a varsity doubleheader to visiting Ishpeming.

The Mountaineers had just 4 hits in an 8-1 loss in Game 1, while Ishpeming pounded out 11 hits in the opening game win.

On the flip side, Mountaineer hitters struck out 13 times.

“That was one of the reasons we lost,” said Iron Mountain coach Bruce Tapio. “It’s just the way it went.”

One bright spot for Iron Mountain was Annslee Runsat, who had 2 singles in the loss. Tapio was also very pleased with the defensive efforts of outfielders Annaliese Lucas and Juliana Tapio.

Iron Mountain started warming up in Game 2 but still couldn’t quite keep with Ishpeming in a 12-5 loss. The Mountaineers actually outhit Ishpeming 7-5, with the visitors also committing 4 errors.

Runsat and Juliana Tapio both had 2 hits in Game 2 for the Mountaineers who left 9 runners on base.

Despite the outcome, Coach Tapio was again excited about the play in the outfield, with Juliana Tapio and Natalia Provost credited with making “spectacular catches.”

That didn’t stop Ishpeming, however, from walking off with the victory and sweep of the twinbill.

“The problem was passed balls on pitches,” Coach Tapio said. “Those will kill you.”

Report compiled by Dennis Mansfield, sports editor.