Iron Mountain’s Juliana Tapio (9) tries to apply a tag on Hancock’s Sofie Freeman (13) as she slides in to second base on Friday at North Side park. (Terry Raiche photo)

IRON MOUNTAIN — It has been an up-and-down season for the Iron Mountain varsity softball team and its woes continued on Friday, as the Mountaineers welcomed Hancock to North Side park for a doubleheader.

Iron Mountain ended up losing 12-0 in the opening game and 18-2 in the finale.

Game One

Both pitchers were in control to start the game and neither team recorded a run in the first innings. However, the Bulldogs’ bats came to life in the second as they broke the scoreless tie on a single to center field.

The Mountaineers couldn’t rally in their half of the second and Hancock kept its foot on the gas.

Iron Mountain’s Ashlyn Bal (10) fields a bunt and looks to first base on Friday against Hancock. (Terry Raiche photo)

After striking out for their first out in the third, the Bulldogs five straight hits to take a 5-0 lead. Back-to-back errors from Iron Mountain plated two more runs as it fell behind 7-0. Ashlyn Bal struck out two consecutive batters to retire the side.

However, the Mountaineers’ offense couldn’t figure out Sadie Biekkola on the bump and she retired the side in order in the bottom of the third.

The Bulldogs tacked on three more runs in the fourth and another two in the fifth to lock up the 12-0 win.

Bal pitched the entire game for Iron Mountain. She struck out six in five innings of work.

Bal and Ava Marttila each recorded a hit for the Mountaineers. Juliana Tapio drew two walks. Vivian Petrusch also drew one.

Biekkola pitched all five innings for Hancock. She struck out 10 and walked three.

As a unit, Iron Mountain tallied seven errors on defense.

Game Two

Hancock’s offense kept its hot streak going in the second game and it notched a run in the top of the first. However, the Mountaineers responded immediately.

Tapio and Bal each drew a walk to start things off then McKinlee Peterson loaded the bases with a single. That brought Marttila to the plate.

She drove a pitch to the pitcher and seemed to be out.

But an errant throw allowed her to reach first safely as Tapio crossed home, tying the game at 1-1.

The Bulldogs exploded for seven runs in the second. They added another run in the third and nine more in the fourth.

The Mountaineers tallied a run in the bottom of the fourth off a double from Emily Copley that scored Lindsey Sorenson. But, Iron Mountain would lose 18-2.

Macy Linsenbigler started the game for the Mountaineers.

She pitched two innings and struck out one. Bal closed the game. She pitched two innings and struck out three.

Copley recorded a double and an RBI for Iron Mountain. Peterson notched a stolen base and two hits. Linsenbigler recorded a hit. Tapio, Bal, Sorenson, Veronica Stanchina and Chiara Nocifaro each recorded a walk.

The Mountaineers are back in action on Tuesday when they face Westwood at West Side park at 3 p.m.

BADGERS 7, WILDCATS 6

NIAGARA, Wis. — The Niagara varsity softball team picked up one for the win column in the Marinette & Oconto Conference standings on Friday as it eked out a 7-6 win over Lena/St. Thomas Aquinas Academy in Niagara, Wis. in the first game of a doubleheader.

The Badgers are 5-3 on the season and 2-4 in conference action.

Game One

“This wasn’t the cleanest game of the year for our team but the girls were able to move on from their mistakes and do enough to come out with a ‘W,'” Niagara head coach Joe Champeau said.

After retiring the Wildcats in the first innings, Niagara took advantage at the plate. Four walks and a hit-by-pitch plated three runs for the Badgers as they pulled ahead 3-0.

Neither team found success in the second and Niagara tacked on two more runs in the third on a single from Bristol Sanicki that scored Mallory Sanicki and Rachael Walker. The Badgers held a 5-0 advantage.

Lena/STAA finally found a flow on offense in the fifth and it cut the lead to 5-4. However, in the sixth, the Wildcats tacked on two more and took their first lead of the game, 6-5.

Niagara rallied in the bottom of the seventh and loaded the bases as Mallory Sanicki stepped into the box. She grounded out, but Grace Payette scored and it was a tie game, 6-6.

Zowie Loukus won the game for the Badgers with a single in the next at-bat, scoring Aiva Champeau and giving them a 7-6 win.

“Bristol is a Freshman, shows up every night and plays quality softball for our team,” coach Champeau added. “She is our starting first baseman and has been outstanding for us all year.”

Elesia Sweig picked up the win for Niagara on the bump. She pitched seven innings and struck out nine.

“Once again our pitching was fantastic throughout the night from Elesia Sweig as she struck out nine batters and consistently threw strikes throughout the night,” coach Champeau added.

Loukus and Bristol Sanicki led the Badgers with two RBIs. Champeau recorded two wits while Walker drew two walks.

“Alyssa Hedmark, Zowie Loukus and Peyton Neuens-Allred all came up big for us with driving in runs at critical times throughout the night,” coach Champeau added.

Game Two

The Badgers kept their momentum going in the second game of the day and picked up a 8-5 win over the Wildcats.

“We had a few miscues in the field,” coach Champeau said, “but we’re able to overcome them and pull out the ‘W’ in game two.”

Alivia Kleikamp started the game for Niagara and picked up the win in 2.2 innings of work. Sweig closed things out for the Badgers. She pitched 4.1 innings and struck out three.

“Alivia Kleikamp got the start and the win on the mound for us and did a fantastic job pitching,” coach Champeau said.

Although the back portion of the batting order provided clutch hits in the opener, it was the top of the lineup that pulled Niagara through in game two.

“Elesia Sweig and Emma Broullire led us in batting, each going 3 for 4,” coach Champeau said. “Broullire also had 4 RBIs. Payette went 2 for 4, Aiva Champeau went 2 for 3 with 2 RBIs and Alyssa Hedmark went 1 for 2 to round out our batting.

“We made plays when we needed to make them. Our defense was able to turn a couple of double plays that helped us get out of the innings in a big way. These girls work hard every day and I couldn’t ask for a better group of girls to coach.”

The Badgers are back in action on Tuesday as they welcome Gillett/Suring to town at 4:30 p.m.

Report compiled by Daily News sports editor Sean Chase.