Justin St. Ours | Daily Press Gladstone’s Parker Frappier (16) throws to Dayton Bernson (right) in an attempt to tag out Marquette’s Clayton Smith Friday at Gladstone.

GLADSTONE — The Gladstone Indians got a chance to work off some rust here Friday.

Their season-opener didn’t go quite the way they hoped, however, as they dropped a 7-6 decision to the Marquette Blues in an Upper Peninsula Under-19 baseball game.

Superior Central senior-to-be Kyle Frusti provided the game-winner on a two-run single up the middle in the bottom of the seventh inning, enabling the Blues to improve to 3-0.

“Kyle did the same thing against Gladstone in a game at Antigo (Wis.) last year,” said Blues’ manager Derek Swajanen. “He told me ‘remember what happened last year, Coach (about the game-winner at Antigo).’ The kids are doing a nice job especially for this being an unusual year (due to the Covid-19 virus). I thought having two games under our belt would help us a little more than it did, although we’re still rusty and young.”

Gladstone led 6-3 after 6 1/2 innings of the U.P. Kickoff tournament opener.

Clayton Smith then brought Marquette within 6-4 on single to right and Eli Werner scored its fifth run on a throwing error.

“I think the biggest thing for us is getting on the field and playing a game,” said Indians’ manager Justin Jurek. “We had a lot of good at-bats overall. Offensively, I think we’re in a good position. I think our pitching will be strong and defensively we’re pretty versatile. Both teams had quite a few walks, but that’s to be expected this early in the season especially for not having a high school season. I think it’s good a have a loss early in the season. We can learn a lot from this.”

Gladstone trailed 3-2 after four frames, then took advantage of six walks while scoring four times for a 6-3 cushion in the fifth.

Frusti opened the scoring on a throwing error in the third.

The Indians, taking advantage of three walks, gained a 2-1 lead in the fourth.

Jon Jason tied the score on a single to left and Frusti gave Marquette a 3-2 lead on a single to left in its half of the fourth.

“We put ourselves in some hard situations early,” said Swajanen. “This is going to be a good bunch once it learns how to play. There’s a lot of talent on this team.”

The teams combined for 20 walks, including 11 issued by Marquette pitchers with five taking place in bases-loaded situations.

Both teams used three pitchers with Eric Johnson taking the win and Ian Schwalbach absorbing the loss.

Frusti and Smith had two hits apiece for the Blues, who finished with five.

The Indians were limited to two hits, including a leadoff double to left by Dayton Berson in the fourth.

Gladstone’s Zach Hanson opened the contest with a single to right.

The Indians left the bases loaded in the first and fourth and stranded 10 baserunners in the contest. The Blues left nine on the basepaths.

Gladstone hosts Menominee and Negaunee today at 1 and 4 p.m. and Copper Country Sunday at 2.

Marquette sets up shop today at 1 and 4 at Wells where it will face Ishpeming and Iron Mountain, then returns to Gladstone to meet Copper Country Sunday at 11 a.m.