Todd Rose | Daily Press Escanaba’s Tyler Lawson (left) slide sinto third base as Manistique’s Isaiah Brow waits for the ball Friday in Escanaba.

ESCANABA — It was a battle under the lights in Escanaba Friday night between the Eskymos and Manistique Emeralds that ended with Escanaba on top 8-4.

The Eskymos — with a busy week — found themselves in a bit of a bind with pitchers. This, however, allowed several players the opportunity to toe the rubber.

After starting Bon LaChance — who had eight strikeouts with four walks and allowed one earned run off two hits in four innings — they cycled through Casey Bray (five walks, 3 ER), Brett Schlenvoght (one strikeout, one walk) and closer Carter Hudson (three strikeouts, one allowed hit).

LaChance was credited with the win.

“We’re in a situation where I’m short on arms, and I gave some guys some chances,” said Escanaba coach Scott Hanson. “(It was) Casey’s first time pitching in a lot of years, and he had a little issue with control and gave them a few in one inning. But that’s ok, I’m not worried about it. He needed a shot.

“Carter was able to come in, and he hasn’t pitched; it’s been a full week for him, too. He had a real slight injury. I’m glad he came in and finished it.”

The Eskymos got on the board early as Tyler Lawson came home from third after Nick Kolich’s popped foul was caught by catcher Jude Way.

Lawson scored again in the fourth following the footsteps of Bryant Maki on a sacrifice fly off the bat of Kolich.

Hanson lauded both Maki and Lawson for their instincts to capitalize in those moments.

“I’ve been lucky to have those guys for the last couple years,” he said. “Sometimes it’s real easy to watch, and it was definitely fun to watch.”

Lawson was 2-4 with an RBI and three runs scored, Kolich had one hit and three RBIs and Matthew Zimmerman was 1-3 with two RBIs.

Carson Sprader pitched the entire game for the Emeralds, ending with 103 pitches in the effort.

He fanned four Eskymos at the plate and allowed eight hits for eight runs (4 ER). He had no walks.

Griffin Snider (1-3) had a single RBI in the fourth to put the first Emerald point on the board.

Hanson commended the first-year program for their effort in the game.

The Emeralds had seven errors in the game.

“I thought Manistique did a nice job,” he said. “I really liked their pitcher (Sprader). He’s a pretty solid pitcher for them … I thought he did a super job. He was really composed, had a good curveball and held runners well.

“I’m happy for them that they’ve got a high school program. I think Jon (Bintner) is doing a super job with them.”

Coming into the game — and a lead-in contest against the Eskuymos JV squad that ended with Escanaba on top 10-0 — Manistique coach Jon Bintner and the Emeralds knew it would be a challenge.

“We talked about it yesterday as a group that this is a good test for us,” Bintner said. “JV-wise, we’re usually pretty competitive with our number-one pitcher (Sprader), which we saved, and we let pitch against the varsity. He kept us in the game.”

The game also presented a chance to learn and grow going forward, said Bintner.

“The (other) thing we talked about, too, was making plays,” he commented gesturing to the scoreboard. “The top number, the number seven up there in the error column, that’s the reason you win or lose. When you don’t make plays, you’re not going to win.

“It gives us some things to work on. We’re getting better every day, and they have nothing to hang their heads about.”

Up next for the Emeralds is a Wednesday game against Newberry.

The Eskymos are back in action this morning with a doubleheader against Gladstone in Escanaba.