Gladstone pitcher Trevor Thorbahn winds up to deliver a pitch during a game against Escanaba on April 19, 2024 at Al Ness Field. (“The Big Dog” Mitch Vosburg/Daily Press)

IRON MOUNTAIN –Baseball can be a sport that is as beautiful as it is frustrating.

Gladstone was proof of that on Thursday, splitting a doubleheader with Iron Mountain with a 3-1 loss and a 17-6 win.

Here’s what went down:

Mountaineers 3, Braves 1

A sacrifice fly from Gavin Frossard tied everything up at one in the second. The Mountaineers earned the big hit in the bottom of the fourth with a two-run single from a 3-1 advantage.

Rex Kelly led off the top portion of the fifth with a single, but Kaden Gibbs popped up to IM shortstop Ian Martilla, who delivered a laser to first base to complete the double play, ending the threat dead in its tracks.

The Braves loaded the bases in the sixth with back-to-back singles from Nate Young and Cooper Sanville. John Soderman drew a five-pitch walk to load the bases. But all three ducks were stranded on the pond to end the game.

Trevor Thorbahn took the loss, allowing three runs (two earned) off six hits with three walks and four strikeouts in five innings of work. Sanville finished 2-for-3.

Braves 17, Mountaineers 6

Gladstone found itself down 4-1 after one. But that didn’t last long.

Thorbahn drew a lead-off walk, and Kelly and Owen Mattonen reached by being hit by a pitch to load the bases. Austin Pepin popped out to the pitcher for out one, but Casey Alworden earned a RBI fielder’s choice, Soderman poked a RBI single into centerfield and Sanville belted a two-run double to left and later stole home for a 6-4 lead.

With its lead trimmed to 6-5, the Braves upped the ante in the third.

Mattonen and Isaac Ketchum earned RBI singles, and the purple and white added four runs off Mountaineer errors and one off a wild pitch to take a 13-5 lead midway through three.

Sanville finished 1-for-2 with a double, five RBI, two runs scored and a stolen base. Soderman finished 2-for-2 with four RBI and three runs scored. Frossard finished 2-for-2 with a double, two RBI and a stolen base.

Ketchum, Mattonen and Pepin each earned a base hit.

Sanville earned the win on the mound, allowing five runs (four earned) off three hits with four walks and three punchouts. Vinny Rebholz allowed one earned run off one hit with a pair of walks and strikeouts in an inning of relief. Alworden allowed one hit and fanned one in an inning of shutout relief.

The Braves host Bark River-Harris at 1 p.m. Saturday.