Game 1: Gaylord 12, Alpena 1

Gaylord came out swinging in the first game, jumping ahead early with a home run to center field by Aubrey Jones in the opening inning. The Blue Devils continued to pile on, plating five more runs in the third behind RBI singles from Jenna Sircely, Lily Ryckman Hall, and Ava Wells.

Alpena’s lone run came in the bottom of the fifth, but it wasn’t enough to close the gap. Paige Samp led the Wildcats’ offense with two hits in three at-bats.

Emmi Ruby was pitching for Alpena, allowing 12 runs — eight earned — on 11 hits across five innings. She struck out one and walked four. Gaylord’s pitcher, Nora Bethuy, earned the win, allowing just three hits and no earned runs while striking out two over five innings.

News Photo by Leslianne Johns Madison Spomer runs to second base during a softball game in Alpena on Tuesday. The Wildcats lost both games to the Gaylord Blue Devils, 12-1 and 6-1.

Game 2: Gaylord 6, Alpena 1

Alpena looked sharp early in the second game, taking a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first when Lilly Rospierski singled home a run. However, Gaylord responded in the third with two runs and pulled away in the fourth thanks to a grand slam by Jones — her second homer of the day.

Jones was dominant on the mound, allowing just three hits and striking out eight in a complete-game win. Samp started for Alpena, surrendering six runs over four innings while walking seven.

Rospierski again led Alpena offensively, going two-for-three with an RBI. The Wildcats also turned a double play on defense, but couldn’t generate enough offense to close the gap.

Gaylord showed strong plate discipline, drawing nine walks in Game 2.

News Photo by Leslianne Johns Lilly Rospierski stands ready in the field on Tuesday. Alpena will play in Alma on Thursday.

The Wildcats, now looking to bounce back, will travel to face the Alma Panthers on Thursday.