RAPID RIVER — The Manistique Emeralds climbed over the .500 mark by sweeping both ends of a softball doubleheader for the Rapid River Rockets here Wednesday.

Manistique raised its record to 9-8 by taking the opener 19-7 in five innings and the nightcap 22-6 in three on this partly sunny and chilly day.

The Emeralds, taking advantage of three errors, three walks and two wild pitches, scored seven times in the opening frame of the second game.

Junior Kenzy Taylor, who ripped a double to leftfield, scored Rapid River’s first run on an error in the bottom of the first.

Manistique again played the role of the opportunist in the second, cashing in on six walks, two hit batters and a wild pitch while adding seven runs for a 14-1 advantage.

The Emeralds scored eight more times in the third, raising the count to 22-1.

“The girls played great,” Emeralds’ assistant coach Laura Jenerou said. “They had a great attitude and at bats, and our pitchers worked hard all year and during the off-season. We do have a young team. We had all seniors in our infield last year.”

Emma Lee’s single to center extended Manistique’s advantage to 15-1 in the third.

Lee then scored on a ground out to the pitcher by Allie Davis, and Brooke Petrilius ripped a two-run homer to right-center for an 18-1 advantage.

The Emeralds also cashed in on an error, four walks and a wild pitch in the third.

Rapid River continued to play hard in its half of the third.

Sophomore Victoria Coppock scored Rapid River’s second run on a single to left by Taylor.

The Rockets added the remaining runs by pouncing on a pair of fielding miscues.

“One of the things I love about this team is the girls never have a quitting attitude,” Rockets coach Kyle VanDrese said. “They’re always competing. They’re getting there. This was Emma Hardy’s first time pitching, and I’m proud of her for being willing to give it a try. We have a couple things we need to clean up, but we’ve been more aggressive on the bases. We’re mentally in the game.”

Davis and Petrelius had two hits each for the Emeralds. Taylor had a pair for the Rockets, who dropped to 2-6 with their fifth straight loss.

In the opener, the Rockets scored on junior Kellyn Gustafson’s infield single in the third, but left the bases loaded and still trailed 10-3.

The Emeralds answered with eight runs in the fourth for an 18-3 advantage.

Sophomore Kaylee Tyler scored Rapid River’s fourth run on a double to left by senior Aubrey Olson in the fourth, then added a pair of runs on Hardy’s double to left.

Senior Kaylin Morrison scored Manistique’s final run on a fielder’s choice in the fifth.

Sophomore Khloe Medwayosh concluded Rapid River’s scoring by crossing the plate on a grounder to second in its half of the fifth.

“They’re rebuilding, but showing signs of improvement,” Jenerou said. “Their attitude stayed positive. That’s awesome.”

The Emeralds are hosting St. Ignace in a twinbill today at 4.

Rapid River, which hosted Felch North Dickinson Thursday, travels to Crystal Falls Forest Park for a pair of games Tuesday.