Escanaba sophomore Landry Bray prepares to hurl a pitch during game two of a doubleheader against Negaunee on April 23, 2024 at Abrahamson Field in Escanaba. ("The Big Dog" Mitch Vosburg/Daily Press)

ESCANABA–For the first time in 2024, Escanaba softball got to play on its home field.

The Eskymos played host to Negaunee on an increasingly frigid Tuesday. The Eskymos dropped both games of the doubleheader to the Miners.

It didn’t help that Esky was without reigning All-State selection and University of Michigan commit Grayson Lamarche. No update was given on Lamarche’s condition or how much time she will miss.

Regardless, the Eskymos have no choice but to find a way to find success without her. Esky coach Andy Fields sees a roster filled with talent. But finding the right mix is the current challenge for the orange and black.

“We have a lot of players right now carrying too much weight on their shoulders,” Fields said. “They got to learn just to play softball and have run right now. We’ll get there. It’s a long season.

How did the Eskymos do in their fourth and fifth games of the 2024 season? Here’s what went down:

Negaunee 5, Escanaba 1

Junior Madison Mott took command in the circle for the first leg of the doubleheader. Despite walking the lead-off hitter and hitting Negaunee’s No. 2 hitter, Mott a free out on a sacrifice bunt and proceeded to strikeout the next two batters to end the threat.

The Miners scratched across one run off Mott in the third and loaded the bases with one out. The Eskymos once again extinguished the threat thanks to a 1-2-3 double play.

Negaunee got its first two hitters on base to start the fifth. Delaney Gladwell earned her second RBI of the game and put runners on first and second.

Mott got Kallen Schultz to hit the 0-1 pitch into left field. Under most circumstances it’s a routine fly ball for the second out of the inning. But Tuesday’s game also featured winds gusting over 20 m.p.h. from home plate to centerfield.

The wind grabbed Schult’s fly ball. It turned into a three-run home run and a 5-0 lead.

Mott mustered an RBI single in the seventh, but it was Esky’s lone run of the game in the loss.

Mott allowed five earned runs off seven hits with four walks and eight strikeouts in a complete game effort.

Carly McInerney, Harlee Coolman, Katey Lamb and McKenzie Engebretson earned base hits.

Negaunee 12, Escanaba 8

Sophomore Landry Bray assumed duties in the circle for Tuesday’s finale.

She got run support in the bottom of the second thanks to a popout from Mott and a double from Emma Wisler for a 2-0 advantage.

The Miners immediately responded with a three spot, scoring two runs off passed balls.

With the deficit up to 4-2, Clara Braun and Addison Noblet produced back-to-back RBI singles to even the score at four.

The Eskymos didn’t stop there.

Coolman belted an RBI triple, Carly Bowden added an RBI single and Noblet earned an RBI single for a 7-4 lead after five.

Negaunee then scored eight runs in the sixth to re-take the lead at 12-7. Coolman blasted a home run, but it proved to be the final blow Esky mustered.

Bray allowed 12 runs (five earned) off six hits with eight walks and eight strikeouts across 5 2/3 innings in the circle. Engebretson struckout the lone batter she faced in relief.

Colman finished 2-for-4 with two RBI and scored twice. Lamb finished 2-for-3, scored twice and stole a base.

Bowden, Braun and Noblet also finished with two-hit games.

As the dust settled on Abrahamson Field, Fields himself admitted that he could’ve been upset over what transpired. He could’ve been a lot of things in that moment.

Instead, he took the blame.

“It’s my job to prepare this team and get them ready. I don’t know that we were totally ready today. I’ll take that on the chin” Fields said. “I’m not taking anything away from Negaunee. They’re a really well coached team. They played really well. When you lose someone like Grayson (Lamarche) for a period of time we’re going to lose her for you kind of have to re-find yourself. You got to have a new identity. We have to find our new identity, and that’s going to take a little time.

“We have a lot of good athletes here. It’s going to take a little time.”