ESCANABA — Strong defense and pitching continue to lead the way for the Escanaba Cubs as they defeated the South Central U.P. Rangers 6-1 and 3-2 in a baseball doubleheader here Monday.

The Cubs are now 6-0 on the season.

“Defense and pitching is winning these games so far,” Cubs coach Paul LaChance said. “Hopefully the bats come around for the tournament this weekend.”

Game One

The bottom of the lineup was key for the Cubs as Isaiah Brow, Owen Fields and Max LeDuc combined for four of the team’s seven hits in the contest. They also scored two runs and drove in one.

The Cubs got on the board in the first inning as Eli Gardner reached on an error to lead-off the bottom half of the inning. Adrian Mercier followed it up with an RBI-double to put the Cubs up 1-0. Graham Johnson reached on an error, scoring a run and then scored on an RBI single by Cannon Arnt to extend the Cubs lead to 3-0.

The Cubs extended the lead to 4-0 as Mercier scored on an error in the second inning.

Ashton Rymkos earned the win for the Cubs allowing one run on four hits with seven strikeouts and four walks.

Game Two

The Cubs were first on the board in the second inning as they put up a pair of runs, including an RBI single by Cannon Arnt.

The Rangers tied the game in the fourth inning as Trenton Kramer had an RBI single and Cade Larson earned an RBI groundout to third base.

The Rangers were threatening to take the lead in the second game, but Jason Graham was thrown out by Johnson to keep the game tied.

The Cubs took the lead in the fifth inning as Bon LaChance hit a ground ball and reached on an error scoring one.

Eli Gardner got the win for the Cubs, allowing zero runs on two hits with two strikeouts and one walk in three innings of work.

The Cubs will be joined by seven other teams for the Gregg Johnson/Al Erickson Memorial Tournament that starts Friday and goes through Sunday. Games will be played at Al Ness Field in Escanaba and Bay College’s field in Wells.

A schedule follows, all times Eastern:

Pool A teams

Escanaba

Niagara

De Pere

Sheboygan

Pool B teams

Marinette

Plover

Kingsford

Soo Black Sox

Friday’s games at Bay College’s field (Wells)

Sheboygan vs De Pere, 2:20 p.m.

Niagara vs De Pere, 5 p.m.

at Al Ness Field

Marinette vs Kingsford, 1 p.m.

Marinette vs Soo Black Sox, 3:30 p.m.

Plover vs Kingsford, 6 p.m.

Escanaba vs Sheboygan, 8:30 p.m.

Saturday’s games at Bay College’s field (Wells)

Soo Black Sox vs Kingsford, 3:30 p.m.

at Al Ness Field

Plover vs Marinette, 10:30 a.m.

Plover vs Soo Black Sox, 1 p.m.

Niagara vs Sheboygan, 3:30 p.m.

Escanaba vs Niagara, 6 p.m.

Escanaba vs De Pere, 8:30 p.m.

Sunday’s games (at Al Ness Field)

No. 1 seed Pool B vs No. 2 seed Pool A, 10 a.m.

No. 1 seed Pool A vs No. 2 seed Pool B, 12:10 p.m.

Championship game, 3 p.m.