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The Blazers won the opener 4-1 before their home fans who enjoyed one of the better days of the spring.

With the sweep, Kalkaska improved to 5-5 in the Lake Michigan Conference and is 8-9 overall.

Dan Tinkle was the Blazers' leading hitter in the nightcap, going 2-for-3 with two runs batted in.

Grayson Myas and Miller each went 2-for-4 with one run batted in, while Kevin Zattlin and Tyler Perrin had singles.

Miller pitched the full six innings and faced 21 batters. He did not have any walks, and struck out seven.

"We still have to nickle-and-dime runs," coach William VanderGriff said. "We can't seem to come up with big hits."

Kalkaska scored three runs in the bottom of the third to break open a scoreless game.

Blake Gruse reached base on a walk, and Myas singled. Miller was safe an error, scoring Gruse. Tinkle singled to drive in Myas.

The Blazers scored six times in the fifth inning.

Zattlin and Miller both singled, and moved up on stolen bases. Travis Schuba drew a walk and would later score a run.

A two-run single by Tinkle highlighted the inning for the Blazers. Perrin also had a single and drove in two runs.

Brandon Washburn was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to force in a run, and Zattlin reached on an error that drove in another.

Schuba picked up the win in the opener. He also gave up just three hits, walked one and had 12 strike outs.

"We gave up one unearned run," VanderGriff said. "We have a great deal of trouble producing hits with runners in scoring position.

"Several missed opportunities haunted us all game long."

Miller finished as the Blazers' leading hitter, going 2-for-2 with a run batted in. Schuba, Andrew Higgins and Tinkle each had singles.

Harbor Springs got on the board first with its unearned run in the top of the fourth.

But the Blazers answered with three runs in the bottom of the inning to take a 3-1 lead.

Higgins had the only hit of the inning for Kalkaska. Schuba reached on an error and Perrin walked to get on base.

Kalkaska added a single run in the fifth when Tinkle singled and scored when Zattlin hit into a fielder's choice.

On Thursday, May 1 the Blazers lost a doubleheader to Traverse City Central 10-4 and 8-5.

Myas, Schuba and Zattlin all picked up singles in the opener. Perrin was the losing pitcher, allowing nine hits, five walks, one hit batter and striking out one.

The Blazers had four hits in the nightcap, all singles by Myas, Schuba, Zattlin and Washburn.

Kalkaska lost an LMC doubleheader to East Jordan on Wednesday, May 1 and was all but mathematically eliminated from title contention.

Miller was the losing pitcher in the first game. He surrendered seven hits and one walk, but had eight strikeouts.

Tinkle led the team in hitting, with two doubles in three at-bats and scoring one run. Myas had a double and scored a run, while Higgins finished with a single.

Schuba gave up just one earned run on three hits in the nightcap while striking out eight and only walking one.

Miller, Zattlin and Washburn all had singles.

"It's very disappointing to have crisp pitching by both teams and start in the hole with silly mistakes and misplayed balls in both games," VanderGriff said. Kalkaska was scheduled to finish the league schedule at Traverse City St. Francis today (Wednesday).