Cubs shortstop Adrian Mercier slides into third base against Marquette on June 11, 2025 at Al Ness Field. (Adam Hinch/Daily Press)

ESCANABA — A stellar night on the mound led the Escanaba Cubs to a pair of wins over Marquette on Wednesday at Al Ness Field. In game one the Cubs held on for a 2-1 victory and took the second game 4-0.

In the first game, Cubs pitcher Cannon Arnt struck out four of the first six batters and did not surrender a hit until the fourth inning.

The Cubs got on the board in the bottom of the third inning on a RBI single by Bon LaChance to put the Cubs up 1-0. The Cubs added another run to take a 2-0 lead.

“We played very well today,” Cubs Coach Paul LaChance said. “We only gave up one run in 12 innings, and our defense did a great job as well as our pitchers.”

Marquette got on the board in the sixth inning on a solo home run by Evan DellAngelo to cut the deficit to 2-1, but that is all it could get.

Arnt picked up the win for the Cubs allowing zero runs on one hit with four strikeouts and one walk. 

In game two, Ashton Rymkos earned the win as he allowed zero runs on three hits with seven strikeouts and two walks.

“I pitched really well,” Rymkos said. “I got a little tired in the sixth inning, but the defense held up and we got it done.”

The Cubs got on the board first on a wild pitch by Marquette to take a 1-0 lead.

The Cubs extended their lead as Joey Garcia popped out to the catcher and Arnt scored on the error.

In the bottom of the fourth, Garcia singled on a ground ball to center to score a run.

“I got behind the count on that one,” Garcia said. “I got into a two-strike approach, found a pitch I liked and drove it.”

Graham Johnson followed it up with an RBI-double to extend the lead to 4-0.

“I got down in the count right away,” Johnson said. “I was just trying to make a good at-bat out of it and I got a nice pitch in the zone, maybe a little away and was able to hit it to the opposite field.”

The Cubs will be back in action for a doubleheader Saturday against Appleton. First pitch set for 3 p.m.