Justin St. Ours | Daily Press Gladstone’s Reese Herioux (left) runs toward first base as Millington’s Summer Mauk fumbles the catch Saturday in Gladstone.

GLADSTONE — After a set of games against Millington, the reigning Division 3 state champ, the Gladstone softball team now has a measuring stick to check and plan out its progress.

The Braves dropped both games to the Cardinals (11-0, 13-2) Saturday in Gladstone.

“We talk about confidence every day,” Braves coach Rick Pepin said. “We talk about energy every day. There’s no quit in Gladstone softball players. This was a good experience for us. This was a measuring stick for us. Now, we know what we need to work on and where we want to be.”

In the nightcap, the Cardinals collected seven runs in the top of the second inning and kept on rolling from there, adding two more in the third and four in the fifth to end it after five.

The Braves collected one run apiece in the bottom of the second and the third.

In the second, it was two singles from Reese Herioux and Alaina Trudeau that put two on the bases for Gladstone.

Then, Maggie Buckley pushed in Gladstone’s first run on a sacrifice fly to allow Herioux to cross home plate. However, after a walk, a ground out ended any momentum for the Braves.

It was Rylee Gerow’s ground single in the third that earned the Braves their second run as catcher Addie Trombley scored.

Gerow took the loss for Gladstone over two innings, allowing eight hits, seven runs and one walk while striking out two.

Montgomery Pepin pitched three in relief, allowing five hits, six runs (5 ER) and one walk while striking out two.

“Montgomery and Rylee pitched really well today against a strong hitting team,” coach Pepin said.

Gerow (2-2 AB) and Buckley collected an RBI apiece for the Braves. Herioux, Trudeau and Trombley all chipped in a hit apiece.

Lilly Sherman earned the complete win for the Cardinals, allowing five hits, two runs (1 ER) and two walks while striking out six.

Leah Coleman (3-3) and Shannon Ziel (2-4) added four RBIs apiece for Millington, and Trinity Fessler (3-4) contributed three.

In the opener, the Cardinals used consistent scoring to pull ahead of the Braves and a punishing defense to shut them down.

“We spent a lot of time this week trying to convince the girls that we can play with a team like this,” coach Pepin said. “We have the athletes. We put the time in practice into the right things. For about four innings (in the first game) we were in it despite the fact that we didn’t put up any offense. The situation got a little exaggerated with some turnovers, and we just never gave ourselves a chance at the plate in that game. We just weren’t in the right frame of mind. That’s a good experience.

“Now we know what we need to do to be a better team. It has nothing to do with tweaking your swing. It has everything to do with coming to the plate with shoulders up, ready to hit.”

Millington added two in the top of the first, one in the second, two in the third, four in the fifth and two in the sixth to seal the game.

Montgomery Pepin took the loss over six innings, allowing 12 hits, 11 runs (8 ER) and two walks while striking out two.

Marnea LaFave picked up the Braves’ sole hit.

“Marnea LaFave played one of her best games at shortstop this season,” coach Pepin said.

Ashley Ziel earned the win for the Cardinals with just one hit allowed, 12 strikeouts and 2 walks.

Sherman (2-4) picked up four RBIs, and Emma Dickie (3-4) and Fessler (3-3) each added two.

“Lilly Sherman pitched very well,” Cardinals’ coach Greg Hudie said. “It was nice to see her take charge on the mound. Our outfield had some nice catches.

“It was nice to get these games up here in the U.P. Gladstone is an awesome team. It was nice to get up here and play. We haven’t played in a couple days.”

Gladstone hosts Menominee today.