Escanaba sophomore Brody Ison swings at a pitch during a game against Marquette on May 7, 2025 at Al Ness Field in Escanaba. (“The Big Dog” Mitch Vosburg/Daily Press)

SAGINAW –Another trip downstate, another test against unknown competition.

Escanaba baseball tripped over the bridge for two games against Saginaw Swan Valley on Saturday.

Here’s what went down.

Game one

Swan Valley 4, Escanaba 2

The Vikings, who suffered a 2-1 loss to Petoskey in the regional title game a year ago, scratched two runs off Eskymos’ ace Lennox Peacock in the second fram off an RBI groundout from Chas Malacos and an RBI single from Gavin Grandy for a 2-0 lead. The Advantage grew to 4-0 in the bottom of the fifth off back-to-back RBI pokes from Brady Stephens and Malacos.

Esky got on the board in the top of the sixth off an RBI triple from junior Ashton Rymkos, who later scored on a passed ball.

Peacock took the loss, surrendering three earned runs off five hits with three walks and 11 strikeouts.

Rymkos and Cannon Arnt each had multi-hit games. Alex Ison and Bryce Bichler each stole a base. Jaxon Hartley earned the win for the Vikings, allowing two earned runs off seven hits with two walks and 17 strikeouts.

Game two

Swan Valley 4, Escanaba 1

The Eskyos drew first blood off an RBI single from Brian Boutilier after back-to-back singles from Nolan Bink and Peacock to start the second inning.

The Vikings mustered two runs in the fourth off an RBI single from Colton Klein and a sacrifice fly from Grandy for a 2-1 lead.

The Vikings saw Hartley earn an RBI poke in the fifth and Klein swipe home plate with two outs in the sixth.

Arnt took the loss for the orange and black, surrendering four earned runs off nine hits with a walk and three strikeouts in six innings of work. Boutilier walked one in an inning of relief.

Klein finished 3-for-3 with two runs scored for the Vikings. Hartley and Malacos each earned multi-hit games.

Aiden Lafond earned the win, allowing one earned run off three hits with two walks and three strikeouts in a complete game effort.

What’s next

The Eskymos host manistique at 5 p.m. Monday at Al Ness Field.