Iron Mountain senior McKinlee Peterson (24) swings at a pitch on Tuesday at Northside Park. Peterson hit a double in this at-bat. (Terry Raiche photo)

IRON MOUNTAIN — The Iron Mountain varsity softball team found some success with its bats against Westwood on Tuesday at Northside Park. However, the Mountaineers couldn’t keep pace with the Patriots and dropped both games in a doubleheader, 9-5 and 18-3.

Game One

Westwood opened the scoring in the first inning with a homerun.

The Mountaineers tried to keep things close, but in the fourth inning, an error plated two more runs for the Patriots. They added another run off of a double and the lead was 4-0.

Westwood tacked on three more runs in the top of the fifth and suddenly Iron Mountain trailed 7-0.

However, that’s when the Mountaineers started to fight back.

Ashlyn Bal started it off after she reached on an error and drove in a run. McKinlee Peterson drove a pitch to center for a double in the Mountaineers’ next at-bat. Ava Martilla followed that with a two RBI single to right field. When the bottom of the fifth came to an end, the Westwood lead was cut to 7-3.

Both teams scored a run in the sixth and seventh as the first game ended with the Patriots ahead 9-5.

Bal got the start on the hill for Iron Mountain. She pitched seven innings and struck out five.

Offensively, Martilla led the Mountaineers. She was 3 for 4 at the dish with two RBIs. Juliana Tapio was 1 for 4 with an RBI.

Game Two

The Patriots’ offense was on another level in the second game as they rolled to an 18-3 victory.

By the end of the second inning, Westwood held a 5-0 lead.

In the top of the third, they tacked on four more runs, making it a 9-0 game.

Martilla drove a run in for Iron Mountain in the bottom of the frame and they trailed 9-1, heading into the fourth.

The Patriots didn’t miss a beat and they tacked on five runs in the fourth and four in the fifth to take a 18-1 lead.

A triple from Macy Linsenbigler scored Tapio. Then Peterson doubled and scored Linsenbigler as the Mountaineers cut the lead to 18-3. However, two strikeouts and a flyball ended Iron Mountain’s comeback.

Linsenbigler started the game for the Mountaineers. She struck out two batters in five innings.

On offense, Tapio led the way going 2 for 3 at the plate. Linsenbigler, Martilla and Peterson each tallied an RBI.

Iron Mountain is headed to L’Anse today at 3 p.m.

KNIGHTS 11, MUSTANGS 1

NORWAY — Munising committed 12 errors on the day and the Norway varsity softball team took advantage as it swept the Mustangs, 11-1 and 13-2, in a Skyline Central Conference doubleheader at Marion Park on Tuesday.

The Knights are now 10-7 on the season.

Game One

Norway opened the first game with a seven run showing in the bottom of the first inning. A single from Jordyn Moln drove in the first two runs. A Victoria Cooper triple plated three and a Elizabeth Romitti triple scored the last two runs of the inning.

Munising recorded a single in the second, but it couldn’t turn them into runs.

The Knights tacked on three more in the bottom of the frame and took a 10-0 lead. Cooper drove in one run in the half inning while Romitti knocked in two.

Neither team scored in the third or fourth inning.

The Mustangs finally got on the board with a run in the fifth. However, Norway added one more to its total and secured the 11-1 win.

Kara Stanchina got the start and picked up the win for the Knights. She pitched 2 innings and struck out three. Moln closed things out on the bump. She pitched 3 innings and sat down two batters.

Romitti led the way for Norway at the dish. She was 3 for 4 with four RBIs and two stolen bases. Cooper also knocked in four RBIs. She was 1 for 2 on the day with a triple. Moln had two RBIs. Emily Murier and Maya Gilroy led the Knights with two walks apiece.

Game Two

Once again, Norway jumped ahead of the Mustangs early in the second game. In the first inning, the Knights scored three runs. Moln and Tessa Castelaz each recorded one RBI in the bottom of the inning.

In the second, Norway added two more to its total as it pulled ahead 5-0. Stanchina drove a ball to left field and pulled into third safely. She would score on a Munising error. Then Payton Paquette reached on an error, scoring Cooper.

The Mustangs broke through in the fourth and scored two runs. However, the Knights notched five more runs in bottom of the frame and three more in the fifth to lock up the 13-2 win.

Stanchina picked up the win for Norway and pitched a complete game. She struck out nine and walked two.

Paquette led the Knights with four RBIs and one double. Stanchina was 3 for 4 at the dish and she stole two bases. Moln went 2 for 4 with three RBIs. Baldwin added two RBIs. Castelaz and Murier each notched one stolen base.

Norway’s game against Carney on Wednesday was rescheduled. It is back in action on Friday in Escanaba at 3:30 p.m.

BADGERS 12, HORNETS 9

GILLETT, Wis. — It was a back-and-forth game in Gillett, Wis. as the Niagara varsity softball team took on Gillett/Suring on Tuesday. The Badgers held on and picked up a 12-9 Marinette & Oconto Conference win over the Hornets.

“This game could’ve gone either way, but I’m very happy that we were on the right side of it,” Niagara head coach Joe Champeau said.

Elesia Sweig started the game on the bump for the Badgers. She threw 141 pitched in nine innings of work, striking out three, walking four and getting the win.

“Sweig showed great endurance for us pitching the complete nine inning game,” coach Champeau added.

Niagara kicked off the scoring in the top of the first after Aiva Champeau drew a walk. She would score with Emma Broullire at the dish on a Gillett/Suring error.

It took the Hornets until the second to get going on offense, a stolen base and double into the gap put them ahead 2-1.

The Badgers immediately answered with Sweig, Champeau and Broullire recording doubles and they pulled back ahead 3-2.

Gillett/Suring tallied a run in the third to tie it up and the teams would trade runs until the seventh inning.

“We got to the seventh inning and we were down 9-7,” coach Champeau said. “The girls stepped up in a big way, plating two runs to tie the game and send it to extra innings after the defense shut them down in the bottom of the seventh.”

Neither team scored in the eighth inning and junior Mallory Sanicki sealed the deal with two RBIs in the ninth inning to give the Badgers an 11-9 advantage. Champeau tacked on an insurance run and Niagara won, 12-9.

“I’m extremely proud of our girls for their efforts,” coach Champeau said. “We have some girls playing through injuries and a lot of girls are sick at the moment.

“I had to move a couple of girls around and everyone of them rose to the occasion.”

Broullire led the Badgers’ offense with a 3 for 5 day at the plate. She also drove in two RBIs. Champeau finished with a double and three RBIs. Mallory Sanicki knocked in two RBIs while Bristol Sanicki and Elesia Sweig each had one RBI.

ESKYMOS 11, FLIVVERS 1

KINGSFORD — It was a rough day for the Kingsford varsity softball team on Tuesday as it took on the Eskymos in a doubleheader at Lodal Park.

The Flivvers ended up dropping both games to Escanaba by a score of 11-1.

Kingsford is 4-13 on the season.

Game One

The Ekymos were on a roll from the start and they racked up four runs in the top of the first inning.

They added five more in the second and one in the third to take a 10-0 lead over Kingsford.

The Flivvers scored their lone run in the bottom of the fourth when Ady Kriegl scored on a wild pitch. Kingsford trailed 10-1.

Escanaba added one more run to its total in the fifth and the game ended with the Flivvers down 11-1.

Jenna Viau started the game for Kingsford. She pitched five innings, striking out seven batters.

Kriegl was 1 for 1 at the plate with a walk and a stolen base. Kailey Sundquist recorded two stolen bases. Carly Smith was also 1 for 1 with a walk and stolen base.

Game Two

The Escanaba bats weren’t as hot in the second game and the Eskymos only recorded one run in the first.

They would add five more runs before the Flivvers could respond in the bottom of the fourth.

Sundquist scored on a sacrifice bunt and Kingsford cut the lead to 6-1.

Escanaba scored five runs in the fifth to end things with them ahead 11-1.

Reagan Cram started for the Flivvers on the bump. She struck out three in five innings of work.

McKenna Trulock led Kingsford on offense. She was 2 for 2 on the day.

Maddie Jungles drove in an RBI while Anna Bortolini drew the Flivvers’ only walk. She also recorded two stolen bases.

Kingsford is in Menominee today for a 4 p.m. game against the Maroons.

Daily News sports editor Sean Chase compiled this report.