The Wildcats went home with two losses in the doubleheader, 3-13 and 4-16, both of which resulted in a mercy rule.

Inconsistencies in the field allowed the Chargers several second chances, making it incredibly difficult to find outs in clutch situations.

Alongside the errors, Dow took full advantage of hittable pitches, knocking numerous hits into the gaps and between fielders to score plenty of runs.

Despite the losses, Alpena found success first at the beginning of game one.

News Photo by Owen Kinzey The Alpena High School softball team celebrates a run on Friday on Alpena High. The team ultimately lost both games of a doubleheader against Midland Dow.

After throwing a zero in the first inning, the Wildcats came to the plate to take a 1-0 lead.

Sydney Hitzelberger got on by an error and was driven home by Izzy Edmonds on an RBI single.

Half an inning later, Dow tied the game back up at 1-1 on a base hit over the second baseman’s head, scoring one.

Once again, the offense came through at the bottom of the third, where Avery Dubey and Hitzelberger got on base. Both later crossed the plate on a booming hit from Edmonds.

This swing hit the top of the outfield fence, barely bouncing back into play, inches from becoming a homerun.

Up 3-1, the tides certainly turned for Alpena.

Six runs were accumulated at the top of the fourth inning, and all the momentum the Wildcats had built up had disappeared.

Alpena needed to retaliate immediately but fell short.

The Chargers fired back with six more runs in the very next inning, and, in no time, the game was called because of a mercy.

The final ended 13-3, favoring Dow.

Unlike the first match, the Chargers came out of the gates hot and ready to swing the bat in the second game.

Dow’s first three batters reached base, eventually touching the dish to take a 3-0 lead early.

Although the first finish was mercy, Alpena’s bats tried to wake up. With a leadoff single from Dubey followed by a single from Emilee Modrzejewski, the Wildcats responded with a run of their own.

Still, with Alpena down 3-1, Midland Dow continued to pour it on, extending the lead by another three runs from a few singles and countless errors.

The Chargers slowed offensively in the top of the third, only grabbing one run.

Paige Samp and the Wildcats earned that run right back in the bottom of the inning on back-to-back singles, limiting the damage to 2-7.

Alpena’s Laura Poli cut the lead further in the next inning on another single that came around to score.

While Midland Dow only tacked on one more run in the fifth, the team completely exploded offensively in the sixth.

Eight more runners touched the bases and reached home throughout the inning.

Even though Alpena’s game was essentially over, Samp ended it with an exclamation point at the plate.

Samp caught a pitch in her wheelhouse and belted it deep beyond the left-center fence for a home run.

Ultimately falling 4-16, Alpena demonstrated plenty of aspects that need improvement and a few things the team needs to continue to do well during the remainder of the season.

“We’ve seen three really nice pitchers now, and it’s beginning to prepare us for the tough competition we’re going to have to face down the stretch,” Alpena Coach Paul Marwede said. “We need to clean a few things up defensively and make it easier on our pitchers to pick up some outs.”

Alpena travels to Grayling on Monday.