Entering the doubleheader, the Northmen reigned undefeated in the conference, meaning Alpena would have to play top-tier to beat Petoskey.

The Wildcats defended their home stadium and executed to a tee, sweeping both games by scores of 12-1 and 2-1, becoming the Big North Conference-leading team.

“This is the team I know we can play like, and this is the team I expect us to play like every game,” Alpena coach Eric Mackenzie said. “We crushed the ball, we played good defense, and we pitched incredibly well all day. I couldn’t have asked anything more from these guys (yesterday).”

As soon as the clock struck 4 o’clock, the Wildcats were ready to make a statement offensively, an inconsistency throughout the entire season for Alpena.

News Photo by Owen Kinzey Kaleb Donajkowski pitches during Alpena’s home baseball game against Petoskey on Tuesday. Donajakowski pitched a no-hitter in five innings in the first game the Wildcats played, and won.

In the bottom of the first inning, Jake Zann knocked in the first RBI of the game with a double, scoring Gabe Glawe.

Zann was then driven home on a single from Alpena’s pitcher, Kaleb Donajkowski.

Holding a 2-0 lead, Alpena extended its hot start with another three runs, one due to an error and two from a single by Glawe.

Eventually, Petoskey answered with a run of its own, and even though the Northmen were on the board, the team still remained hitless.

While the Northmen responded with a run, Alpena poured on another three runs from a Brady Chapman double that cleared the bases, scoring Jase Kollem, Nathan Southard, and Connor Cameron.

News Photo by Owen Kinzey Jonny Rensberry hits during Tueday's game in Alpena against Petoskey,

Going into the bottom of the fourth, Alpena maintained an 8-1 commanding lead, where another two runs would put the game in near-mercy territory.

Cameron doubled into the gap, scoring Kollen and Southard again to go up 10-1.

Finally, in the bottom of the fifth, the Wildcats would win from a mercy thanks to another two-RBI double, this time hit by Hunter Cohoon, scoring Tucker Bright and Zann.

Despite the offensive masterclass, Donajkowski tossed a no-hitter through five innings, completely limiting the Northmen to zero earned runs allowed.

Although the scoring outcomes from each game differed entirely, pitching continued to be the key to success in game two.

News Photo by Owen Kinzey Caleb McEwen pitches during Tuesday's game against Petoskey.

Caleb McEwen led the game on the bump, as he would limit Petoskey to five hits and one run over the course of all seven innings.

Early in the bottom of the first, Alpena became the first team to draw blood by taking advantage of a Petoskey error to go up 1-0.

The Wildcats continued with the one-run lead until the top of the sixth, where the Northmen tied up the game on an RBI single.

Alpena held Petoskey into a 1-1 stalemate going into the bottom of the seventh inning.

With a chance to walk it off to take hold of the BNC Alpena’s nine-hitter, Chapman blasted a ball to deep right-centerfield, clearing the fence for a home run, sending Petoskey home with a 2-1 loss.

This shot was Alpena’s first home run of the season, and it couldn’t have come at a better time against a better team.

“I’m super proud of these guys, and we need to continue hitting the ball like we did (last night) going forward,” Mackenzie said. “We’ve got another doubleheader against Tawas (today), so we’re looking to repeat and play just like we did (last night).”

Alpena travels to Tawas today.