ESCANABA — It was a tough day on the softball diamond for the Rapid River Rockets here Saturday as they dropped two games in the Escanaba Invitational.

The Rockets bowed to Norway 13-3 after falling to Gladstone 11-1 on this sunny and seasonably cool afternoon. Both games were decided in five innings.

Rapid River collected nine hits against Norway, including two each by Cecilia Pilon, Riley Edwardsen and Ellie Moberg.

“We were making better contact than in the first game,” said Rockets’ coach George Kanyuh. “We’re still working hard to try to improve in some of our problem areas. We still have some hurdles to clear. We’re getting close to crunch time now.”

Pilon took the loss over five innings. She walked five and allowed 10 hits.

Gladstone’s Andie Balenger limited Rapid River to four hits, struck out six and walked one in the earlier contest.

The Braves scored two runs apiece in the first and second innings, then erupted for seven in the third.

Taelor Zeise’s home run to left-center field led off the third as Gladstone sent 11 hitters to the plate and took advantage of a throwing error in the inning.

“It seems like we have a third inning like that in every game we play,” said Kanyuh. “We struggled on defense in both games. There’s lot of fundamental parts of the game that still aren’t being accomplished. We have three weeks to clean things up before (Division 4) districts.

“We hope to make a push near the end. We’re a young team. It’s a learning experience.”

Pilon ripped a two-out double to right in the third and Ellie’s Moberg’s bunt single in the fourth drove in Rapid River’s lone run.

Natalie Belanger, who went the distance, absorbed the loss. She walked one and retired the Braves in order in the final two frames.

Rapid River hopes to bounce back in a doubleheader today at 4 in Munising.