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MIDLAND – The Alpena Wildcats varsity baseball team split a doubleheader against Midland Dow on Thursday, winning game one 5-4 in thrilling fashion, and taking a loss in the second game 8-2.

Alpena is now 10-9 on the season.

Game one stayed tight throughout. Dow jumped ahead 1-0 in the first inning and added another run in the third to lead 2-0.

Alpena responded in the top of the fourth inning to take a 4-2 lead. Eion Eades delivered a two-run double and Blayze Most followed with an RBI single. Ethan Walker drove in the fourth run on a groundout.

Dow tied the game at 4-4 in the sixth inning after capitalizing on an Alpena error. However, the Wildcats refused to fade. In the top of the seventh inning, with the score knotted at four, Gavin Ross delivered the game-winning hit with an RBI single.

Clark Weir earned the victory on the mound, throwing two and two-thirds scoreless innings of relief, allowing one earned run, and striking out two batters. Eades started for Alpena, working four and a third innings with four strikeouts.

In game two of the doubleheader, Alpena got on the board first in the top of the second inning when Zack Orban delivered an RBI single. Dow then responded in the bottom half of the inning with six runs, fueled by four hits, including a two run RBI single giving Dow the 6-1 lead.

Dow added two more runs in the third inning on a sacrifice fly and an RBI single, putting the game out of reach.

Offensively, the Wildcats were led by Clark Weir, Orban, and Troy MacArthur, each recording one hit. Weir and Orban drove in Alpena’s two runs.

Next Up: The Wildcats will travel to Rogers City today for a doubleheader, game one is scheduled to begin at 10 a.m.