WELLS — The Bay College women reaped the benefits of a 12-run fourth inning here Sunday, romping past Finlandia University 19-2 in the first game of a softball doubleheader.

Finlandia bounced back to take the nightcap 10-5 on an afternoon that featured a stiff breeze toward the outfield.

In the second game, the Norse tied the score at five apiece on a two-run homer to left-centerfield by Escanaba graduate Lexi Chaillier in the fifth inning.

The Lions (12-10), fueled by Daniella Gonzalez’s three-run homer, secured the decision by scoring five times in the sixth.

“It was a hitter’s wind,” said Finlandia manager Matt Farrell. “Anytime you got the ball up in the jet stream, it was a threat to go out of the park. Danielle’s home run was a big two-out hit for us. Anytime you do that, it gives you a better chance to win the ball game.”

Finlandia scored three times in the first and added a run in the second.

The Norse (12-20) got a run back in its half of the second, then shaved their deficit to 4-2 on Chaillier’s solo shot to left and pulled within 4-3 on a double by Bonnie Cortinas in the fourth.

Melanie Torres clubbed a leadoff homer to left in the fifth to put the Lions up 5-3 before the Norse tied the score in their half of the inning.

The Lions left two runners on base in the firth, enabling the Norse to avoid further damage.

“I thought we had some momentum when we tied the score in the fifth inning,” said Norse manager Heidi Charon. “It was good to give up just one run and get out of their half of the fifth. That gave us a little better chance at the plate. We hit the ball real well in the first game, then we got complacent and lost our intensity. We didn’t hit as well in the second game.”

Norway grad Harlie Caster was the winning pitcher, and Karlie Patron took the loss.

“They have a good offensive team,” said Farrell. “Lexi is a special player. She hurt us all day long with her power. Our girls did a good job responding in the sixth.”

In the opener, Gladstone grad Taelor Zeise homered in the fourth and drove in seven runs for the Norse.

Korey Kaukola hit a solo shot in the first and homered again in the fourth. Cortinas and Zeise added home runs, Patron doubled and Zeise had a single in the inning.

Bay finished with six home runs, including one by Chaillier in the second.

Patron took the win this time, striking out five and allowing seven hits. Kyndell Coffman absorbed the loss.

The teams also split a doubleheader in Hancock Friday, with the Norse taking the opener 10-0 and dropping the nightcap 8-7.

“The teams were well matched,” said Charon. “It’s nice to have that closer to home.”

The Norse travel to Ironwood for a twinbill with Gogebic Community College Wednesday.