Jasmyn Schultz hit two home runs and the Wildcats took both games from the Hurons, winning the opener 4-2 and the nightcap 7-3.

“It’s a great situation to have our friends and neighbors in Rogers City so close by to where we can pick a day of the week (to play) and get tuned up for our district action,” Alpena coach Paul Marwede said. “We hit the ball nicely, put a lot of balls in play and ran the bases well. The long ball helps out too.”

Alpena (31-7) made contact at the plate from the get-go in the nightcap and scored four runs in the first inning. After Emma Fraser singled to score Liz Kendziorski, Schultz launched a two-run home run to right field three batters later to put Alpena ahead 4-0.

Schultz banged another two-run shot off the center field scoreboard in the third inning with two outs, giving Alpena a 6-3 lead.

News Photo by James Andersen Rogers City's Taylor Fleming makes contact with a pitch.

After struggling to make contact in the opener, the Hurons (30-5) found a rhythm in the nightcap. With one out in the top of the first inning, Krysten Altman tripled and Kayla Rabeau followed with a double to give the Hurons a brief 1-0 lead.

The Hurons added a run in each of the next two innings and trailed 6-3 after three innings. But from there Rogers City was held in check as it was limited to just two hits and stranded two base runners in the sixth inning.

“We always enjoy playing Alpena before the district tournament. They’re well coached and it’s always fun to play them. There were two good battles today,” Rogers City coach Karl Grambau said. “They made some great defensive plays and we had some runners get picked off.”

An RBI single from Taylor Kunath gave Alpena its final run in the fourth inning.

Schultz led Alpena with two hits and four RBI, Jessica Marwede had a hit and an RBI and Alyssa Gehrke had two hits.

Fraser and Jade Schultz combined for the win, allowing three runs on seven hits with five walks and one strikeout.

Altman took the loss for Rogers City, allowing seven runs on 10 hits with five strikeouts.

Rabeau led Rogers City with two hits and an RBI and Altman had a triple.

The Hurons fell just short of a comeback in the opener. Trailing 3-2 with two outs in the sixth inning, Hannah Fleming looped a double into right field, scoring Altman and Rabeau to cut the lead to one.

Fraser drove in Tara Myers on a fielder’s choice in the bottom of the inning to add an insurance run and Jade Schultz retired the side in the top of the seventh inning to end the game.

While the Hurons played a solid defensive game and escaped several jams, Alpena came up with enough hits to score enough runs to earn the win.

Alpena scored a run in each of the first two innings and added one each in the fifth and sixth innings.

Jessica Marwede had an RBI single in first inning to give Alpena a 1-0 lead and Fraser added an RBI single in the second inning.

An RBI groundout from Abbie Funk in the fifth inning scored Marwede to give Alpena a 3-0 lead.

Fraser led Alpena with two hits and two RBI and Marwede had a hit and an RBI.

Fraser and Schultz combined for the win, allowing two runs on four hits with seven strikeouts and a walk. Fraser threw three no-hit innings to open the game and the duo held the Hurons to one hit through five innings.

The Hurons finally broke through in the sixth inning as Altman and Rabeau both singled with two outs. Fleming followed with a double to score both runners and Taylor Fleming followed with a walk, putting go-ahead run on first base. A groundout by Saige Wagner ended the threat however.

“I’m pretty happy with how we hit. We had some nice hits,” Grambau said. “We’re going to have to hit on Saturday.”

Jayna Hance took the loss for Rogers City, allowing four runs on nine hits with three strikeouts and a walk and Hannah Fleming led Rogers City with two hits and two RBI.

Rogers City plays Johannesburg-Lewiston on Saturday in a Division 4 district semifinal in Hillman. The Wildcats will host a Division 1 district on Friday and open against Marquette.

James Andersen can be reached via email at sports@thealpenanews.com or by phone at 358-5694. Follow James on Twitter @ja_alpenanews.