Click the thumbnails to see photos and videos, and to hear post-game comments from Adrian Mercier

MARINETTE, Wis,---The Escanaba Cubs and Marinette Legion baseball teams hooked up in an old-fashioned pitcher's duel late Friday night as the Marinette Firecracker Tournament got under way at the Pederson Ballpark.

In a game where there were only five total base hits and four total walks, the Cubs lost a tough 2-1 decision under warm, hazy conditions.

The Cubs hit the ball hard in the first inning, but Chase Cloutier's shot up the gap was tracked down by center fielder Ashton Lebich. Then Adrian Mercier hit a line drive that shortstop Eli Gruszynski made a leaping catch to end the inning.

In the second inning, Mercier walked Lane Whiting and Grusynski, bringing up Kolton Goldsmith. Goldsmith hit a grounder to Gardner at second, and the ball went right between his legs into right field for an error, bringing home the game's first run.

Then Lebich followed with a line drive base hit to left field, giving Marinette a 2-0 lead, with both runs against Mercier. Meanwhile, the Cubs offense was stuck in neutral against Marinette pitcher Landon Beyer, with the first nine batters going out.

In the fourth inning, the Cubs finally got some men on base as Cloutier walked and Gardner followed with a base hit to left field. But Mercier grounded out, Bon LaChance popped up, and Jack McEvers lined out, so the Cubs still trailed, 2-0.

Escanaba also threatened in the fifth inning when Matt Kaven got a one-out single, and when Bryce Blixt hit a grounder to the left side of the infield, Beyer came off the mound and threw to the shortstop who was not covering second. Then a wild pitch moved the runners to second and third base, giving the Cubs a chance to tie the game.

Nick Chiu got ahead in the count and lifted a fly ball deep enough to bring Kaven home, cutting the deficit to 2-1. But with two out, Cloutier flew out to end the inning.

The Cubs had another chance in the seventh inning when Ben Johnson smoked one up the center field gap for a double. He advanced to third on a fly ball by McEvers after a lengthy at-bat. That brought up Blixt, who grounded out to end the game.

Mercier allowed only two base hits but took the loss, using 100 pitches to go six innings. Beyer tossed a seven-inning three-hitter, using only 88 pitches.

Escanaba is back in action with two games on Saturday. They'll play Green Bay Southwest at Noon ET/11 a.m. CT, and then face Watertown at 6:30 ET/5:30 CT. The evening game will be broadcast on FM-93.5, AM-600, and www.rrnsports.com.