Gladstone junior Allie Larson swings at a pitch against Negaunee on May 9, 2024 at Gladstone High School. (Adam Hinch/Daily Press)

GLADSTONE –There’s something unique about a comeback.

Gladstone softball proved that to be true, especially when junior Allie Larson called game with a walk-off two-run home run to complete a four-run comeback in the bottom of the seventh. The Braves posted a second comeback to earn a doubleheader sweep over Negaunee on Thursday, claiming game one 8-7 and game two 12-11.

After trimming a 7-3 deficit into a 7-6 ballgame, Larson came up to bat with Madison Sundquist standing on first off a five-pitch walk. Larson saw the first pitch miss the strike zone for ball one. She then watched the second pitch explode off her bat and clear the fence in leftfield for the win.

“It felt so good,” Larson said. “We have had so many ups and downs from the beginning of the season, so it felt really good because we were a little nervous going into the game, but feels good to get the walk-off win.”

Thursday’s heroics didn’t belong exclusively to Larson in the seventh inning. Lauren Sundquist also obliterated a 1-0 pitch for a home run to make the score 7-4. Reese Herioux singled in the ensuing at bat and was followed by Montgomery Pepin taking a 3-2 pitch for a trip out of the confines of Gladstone’s home field to shave the deficit to 7-6.

“That is something I have never experienced,” Braves coach Rick Pepin said. “Our girls took advantage of their opportunity at the plate. But there is no better way to get out of a slump than to have a walk-off home run.”

The Braves had to rally from behind in game two as well. The Braves trailed 7-4 going into the bottom of the fourth. Pepin came through with a lead-off single to start the inning for the Braves, and Samantha Drielick followed it up with a two-run home run to pull the Braves to within one at 7-6.

“It was a pretty rewarding day for us today,” Drielick said. “We persevered through these two games today and this builds our confidence that we can come from behind and be where we need to be.”

Drielick finished game two 3-for-4 with the home run and also had three RBI.

The Miners plated three more runs in the top of the fifth inning to extend their lead to 10-6. Theresa Anderson singled in the inning to bring in a run. Anderson was 2-for-3 with a RBI and three runs scored for the Miners.

Madison Sundquist had a lead-off single to start the fifth inning for the Braves, and later scored on a double by Pepin that cut the deficit to 10-7. Drielick singled and later scored on a single by Madison Sundquist to pull the Braves to within one at 10-9. Rylee Gerow scored on a passed ball to tie the game at 10. Lauren Sundquist hit a two-run double to give the Braves a 12-10 lead. Lauren Sundquist was 3-for-4 in game two with three RBI and two runs scored.

The Miners were able to get one across in the top of the sixth but fell short to the Braves.