News Photo by Jonny Zawacki Alcona’s Taylor Livingston dives back to first base after a pop up in the infield during the nightcap of a softball doubleheader against Au Gres on Friday at Alcona High School.

LINCOLN — The Alcona softball team played its first two games of the season on Friday against an Au Gres team that already had four games under its belt.

Despite falling behind several different times throughout the evening, the Tigers never quit and put together two comeback victories, winning 7-6 and 12-11.

After coming from behind to stun the Wolverines in the bottom of the sixth inning to win its first game of the year in game one, Au Gres put a lot more pressure on the Tigers early in the nightcap as it wasted no time putting runs on the board in what turned out to be a slugfest.

The Wolverines opened the game with five consecutive hits as Kara Caufield led off the game with a single followed by a single from Brianna Freehling and then Sydney Walker doubled to score both Caufield and Freehling.

With Walker waiting on second base with no outs, Marlee Walker hit a two-run home run to put Au Gres ahead by four early.

The Wolverines added two more runs in the inning as Jessie Cook singled and scored on an RBI double off the bat of Rachel Hiveley who also scored to cap off a six-run first inning.

Alcona was held scoreless in the home half of the first, but the Tigers were able to shut down Au Gres in the second before they started chipping away at the lead.

Alcona began capitalizing on several Wolverine errors throughout the course of the game starting in the second inning when Jenelle Carpenter scored the team’s first run of the game after reaching on an error. Carpenter scored on an RBI single from Jordan Joyce who also came around to score after Maddie Lane walked and scored.

Au Gres matched the Tigers with three runs of their own in the top of the third, but again Alcona scored another three runs in the home half to get back to within three.

The two teams again matched runs in the fourth, but the Tigers gained a little momentum when Brittany Decker hit a two-out moon shot of a home run to wake up the Tigers.

Au Gres scored its final run of the game in the top of the fifth to take what looked like a comfortable 11-7 lead heading into the final inning.

There was nothing comforting for Au Gres in the bottom of the sixth inning as the Tigers sent the first five batters to the plate. After issuing back-to-back walks to start the inning, starting pitcher Madison King was pulled and relieved by Caufield.

After Keilee Elmer and Decker walked to start the innings, the Tigers rallied for two consecutive hits as Carpenter and Lane both singled home runs. Elmer reached on an error which allowed Carpenter and Lane to score.

With the bases loaded a no outs, Hailee Gordy ripped a base hit up the middle to score Joyce and propel the Tigers to another comeback win and complete a thrilling opening day for Alcona.

At the plate, the Tigers were led by Gordy who played the role of hero by driving in the winning run and went a perfect 4-for-4 with three RBI. Carpenter and Decker each added two hits apiece and Joyce and Lance also added a hit apiece in the win to lead Alcona to 2-0 start to the season.

Jonny Zawacki can be reached via email at jzawacki@thealpenanews.com or by phone at 358-5690.