Gladstone senior Casey Alworden (2) successfully slides into home plat through the legs of Menominee catcher Nate Nelson during a game on May 5, 2025 at Don Olsen Field in Gladstone. (“The Big Dog” Mitch Vosburg/Daily Press)

GLADSTONE –Errors have proven costly for Gladstone baseball so far this season.

The Braves committed seven errors in a mercy loss to arch rival Escanaba on April 26 and committed five errors which turned into four runs in a 5-1 loss to Green Bay Preble on Friday.

Maybe parent’s night was all the Braves needed to right the ship of their defensive woes on Monday. The Braves committed two errors while earning a doubleheader sweep over Menominee, winning game one 7-4 and game two 9-1 at Don Olsen Field.

“We’re starting to make some plays, which is good to see. I don’t know how much more my blood pressure could take of us making errors on routine plays,” Braves skipper Tyler Swanson said. “Happy to see that we’re moving in the right direction. That’s what it’s about for us at this point.”

Junior Trevor Thorbahn, who has been tasked with pitching appearances in relief roles, got the start for game one as the Braves prep to play seven games in six days. Thorbahn struggled early as the Maroons belted back-to-back doubles in the same gap in right-center field, leading to a three-run first inning.

But the Braves slowly chipped away at the deficit. An RBI sacrifice fly from senior Gavin Frossard and an RBI poke from Thorbahn himself cut Menominee’s lead to 3-2 after one. Senior Davin Mattonen’s RBI single in the second tied the game at three. The Maroons added a run in the top half of the third, but senior Austin Pepin helped give Gladstone control of momentum.

First, he ripped an RBI single to score Isaac Ketchum and advance Frossard to third base. Second, on the first pitch of the ensuing at-bat Pepin took off in hopes of stealing second base. He was successful, and the throw from home plate allowed Frossard to score from third to give Gladstone its first lead of the day. Frossard drove in two runs off a sacrifice bunt in the bottom of the sixth for the 7-4 lead.

Senior Landon VanTassell and sophomore Cooper Sanville each had two-hit games.

As for Thorbahn, well, the junior righty settled in after a rough first inning. After surrendering three earned runs off four hits in a 33-pitch first inning he finished the day allowing four earned runs off six hits with two walks and 11 strikeouts across 5 1/3 innings of work after hurling 96 pitches.

“He was able to lock in and throw strikes, and he got stronger as the game went on,” Swanson said of Thorbahn. “He did a nice job, was able to gut through it. I was really proud of him.”

Game two saw sophomore Nate Beauchamp take the mound. He did not disappoint, allowing one unearned run off one hit with two walks and 10 strikeouts across 3 2/3 innings.

“Nate needed to step up for us, and this is the second week in a row he’s done that,” Swanson said of Beauchamp. “He’s a strike thrower. He’s doing a great job adjusting, getting us innings and getting us through ball games. I’m really proud of his effort as well.”

The Braves tacked on two runs in the first, four in the second, two in the third and one in the fourth in a five-inning showdown against the Maroons.

Thorbahn finished 2-for-3 with three RBIs, three stolen bases and two runs scored. Forssard, who allowed two hits, one walk and punched out two in 1 1/3 innings of relief, drove in two runs, walked twice and earned a base hit. Beauchamp helped his cause with two hits and scored twice. Senior Casey Alworden scored twice, stole two bases and drove in a run. Senior Bret Seger also earned an RBI hit.