Adam Hinch Daily Press Escanaba’s Grayson LaMarche delivers a pitch in her no hitter against Marquette.

MUSKEGON–Softball season began with a bang for Escanaba on Saturday, competing in the 2024 Lakeshore Grand Slam Tournament.

The Eskymos cruised to a 3-0 finish on the day. Here’s what went down in the mitten:

Escanaba 16, Spring Lake 3

First game jitters? Never heard of it.

The Eskymos exploded in the first inning. With a RBI triple from Anna Boutilier, RBI double from Katey Lamb and RBI hits from Katey Lamb, Taylor Forvilly, Harlee Coolman, Grayson Lamarche and even one from Boutilier Esky led 7-0 entering the second stanza.

Carly Bowden added an RBI double and Coolman scored one with a single in the second for a 9-0 lead. After Boutilier belted another RBI triple in the third for a 10-0 lead, Lamb and Forvilly cranked back-to-back RBI doubles in the fourth for a 12-0 lead. Esky kept the train rolling in the firth with a two-run double from Coolman, an RBI groundout from Landry Bray and RBI knock from Lamb for a 16-1 lead.

Boutilier and Coolman each finished 4-for-4 with four RBI. Lamb finished 3-for-3 with three RBI and scored twice. Forvilly finished 3-for-4 with a pair of RBI and scored once. Lamarche and Carley McInerney each had two hits.

Lamarche picked up the win, striking out three in a perfect first inning. Maddy Mott struck out three across two innings in relief. Bray Allowed three runs off two hits with three walks and a pair of punchout across two innings.

Escanaba 1, Muskegon Oakridge 0

Unlike Saturday’s opener, the matchup between the Eskymos and Eagles was not for those who enjoy fireworks for offense. Or for those with short fingernails.

After seven scoreless innings and McInerney on second thanks to the extra inning baserunner, Boutilier smacked a 2-1 pitch and delivered a line drive to right field for a base hit, scoring McIerney for a 1-0 lead. Lamarche slammed the door shut in the eighth for the win. Lamarche allowed one hit in the first inning while striking out 17 batters across 8 innings in the circle.

Boutilier and Lamarche each finished 2-for-4.

Escanaba 9, Wayland 2

The Eskymos found themselves down 2-0 midway through three innings. The two-out base hits from Boutilier and Lamarche in the bottom of the third set the stage for a rally. Behind a two-run single from Mott, a two-run double from Lamb and four Wildcat errors Esky led 9-2 after three innings.

Mott allowed two earned runs off three hits while issuing five walks and fanning two in four innings from the circle. Lamarche allowed one hit and struckout five in three innings of relief.

The Eskymos host Negaunee at 4 p.m. on April 23.