Austin Hemmingson | Daily Press Gladstone’s Maddie Ahlgren hits a fly ball into centerfield in front of Rapid River catcher Kristen Goodacre during the second game of Tuesday’s doubleheader at Rapid River.

RAPID RIVER — Back-to-back two-run innings were the difference for the Gladstone softball team here Tuesday, as the Braves held on for a 5-2 triumph over Rapid River. The victory gave the Braves a sweep after they won the opener 8-2.

Leading 1-0 in the top of the fourth of the nightcap, Gladstone’s Taelor Zeise doubled to left to score Sydney Herioux. Morgan Letteriello then drove in Zeise on a RBI groundout to shortstop to make it 3-0.

The Braves (19-1) tacked on two more in the fifth on back-to-back RBI doubles by Jenna Tardiff and Herioux to extend their lead to 5-0.

“We hit the ball well a couple times .. we hit the ball solid,” Braves’ coach Darin Hunter said. “Rapid River made some plays — they’re a young team. They perservered through some minor mistakes and made the plays when they needed to.”

The Rockets (9-7) made things a little bit interesting in the sixth, putting runners on second and third with one out after a double by Kristen Goodacre. Natalie Belanger drove in Cecilia Pilon from third in the next at-bat on a RBI groundout to short to make it 5-1.

Rapid RIver tacked on an unearned run in the seventh on a RBI groundout to third base by McKenzi Schram, but that’s all it would get.

Letteriello pitched the full seven innings, surrending just two runs (one earned) on three hits while striking out and walking two. Natalie Hansen drove in Gladstone’s first run on a sacrifice fly to centerfield in the second.

Belanger took the loss in both games, going the distance in each. She surrendered five runs (four earned) on seven hits while striking out one in the nightcap, and gave up eight runs on 12 hits while fanning five in the opener. She didn’t walk anyone.

Andie Balenger earned the complete game win for Gladstone in the opener, giving up just two runs while fanning seven.

“Morgan and Andie both pitched well. When they’re on their game, they make it easy for me calling pitches,” Hunter said. “It gives us a lot more to work with and we can keep the batters off their game a little by changing it up so they’re guessing at the plate.”

The Rockets committed four errors, including two in the fifth that helped propel the Braves to a couple runs.

“We made way too many mistakes. We had too many easy plays blown,” Rockets’ coach George Kaynuh said. “You can’t do that against good teams — they capitalize. Gladstone pretty much did every time. We still have a ways to go to clean these things up. Some of it’s routine too. We’re not pressing any panic buttons. It’s not the end of the world yet but it’s the reason we play these teams too. They expose your weaknesses and now we know where we need to go with our practice to make things better.”

Letteriello provided the opener’s biggest highlight with a deep solo home run.

“Mo(rgan) had the one good at-bat in the first game. She had a nice killer shot,” Hunter said.

Jaden Schwartz and Riley Edwardsen each had RBIs for the Rockets in the opener and Belanger and Schram had both RBIs in the nightcap.

Kanyuh would have liked to see more offense.

“I would have liked to see a few more hits. We only struck out twice in that second game so we put the bat on the ball almost every single time, but we didn’t hit it hard enough or hit it right at people,” he said.

Gladstone visits Negaunee for a doubleheader Thursday, while Rapid River plays Marshfield, Wis. at Escanaba in the Escanaba Invitational Friday.