Sophomore Domenic Frederickson crushed a double and two-run triple Thursday against Escanaba, going 3-for-3. (Ron Deuter photo)

KINGSFORD – Kingsford’s push for a 10th straight win came to a halt against conference frontrunner Escanaba on Thursday afternoon at Gary Spigarelli Memorial Field.

A sixth-inning defensive meltdown led to seven Eskymo runs and sent the Flivvers to their first loss since April 24 in a 10-6 defeat. The Ekymos (18-5) are now 2-0 against Kingsford this season after a 10-0 run-rule whitewash at Escanaba last month.

Entering the sixth with a 6-3 lead, Kingsford allowed Escanaba to put their first two runners on due to miscues. A sacrifice bunt then moved the runners up before senior Jack Kriegl got a pop fly for a second out. But a walk followed to keep the inning alive, leading to the exit of Kriegl due to pitch count.

Junior Jonah Doenier took over on the mound and got a groundball for what should have ended the inning, but it got through allowing two runs to score. A dropped infield pop-up in the next at-bat let two more runs in and gave Esky a 7-6 lead.

Next, after falling behind in the count to Ashton Rymkos — who crushed a line drive homer to right center off Kriegl earlier in the game — the coaches decided to put him on first. Cleanup man Mikaiden Hughes stepped in and sent a 2-0 pitch well beyond the fence in left for a three-run knockout blow. Hughes was 2-for-4 with four RBIs.

Kingsford out-hit the Eskymos 8-7, three of those coming off the bat of sophomore Domenic Frederickson who doubled and ripped a two-run triple in his first two at-bats and then beat out a bunt attempting to move a runner from second to third with one away in the fifth and the Flivvers ahead 5-3. Frederickson also provided a highlight-worthy diving grab of a sinking line drive.

Junior Devin Miller went 2-for-3 with a double, scoring in the fifth from third on a throwing error when Frederickson stole second. Freshman Colin Olsen added an RBI single in the Flivvers’ two-run fourth. Kriegl drove in the other run in that frame with a sacrifice fly.

Kriegl finished his afternoon allowing five hits two earned runs while striking out five and walking four. Doenier shouldered the loss despite only allowing two hits, both of those coming after two away in the ill-fated sixth inning. No runs were charged to Doenier due to the errors.

Esky, not using ace Lenny Peacock on the mound in this one, saw Rymkos collect the win with five innings of work. He allowed seven hits and all six runs (three earned) while whiffing eight. Joey Garcia limited Kingsford to just one hit over the final two innings.

Kingsford head coach Joe Kriegl honored the team’s three seniors – Kriegl, Jacob Deuter and Cole Baciak with on on-field ceremony following the game. Deuter and Baciak did not see the field during the game.

The Flivvers, now 9-10, were scheduled for a tournament in Eagle River, Wis., Saturday. Three road games follow next week at Houghton, Menominee and Norway ahead of returning home to host the district tournament beginning Friday, May 29.