The Dowagiac softball team wrapped up the 2010 campaign Wednesday afternoon by splitting its Wolverine Conference doubleheader with Otsego.

The Chieftains came out a bit flat in the opener and dropped a 2-1 decision to the Bulldogs.

Dowagiac responded in the nightcap and went out a winner as it defeated Otsego 11-0 in five innings.

“I was a little worried how we would come out after losing pre-districts last night and we came out very flat in the first game and didn’t take advantage of their mistakes,” Dowagiac coach Mike Behnke said. “We could have won that game by five or more runs but instead lost.”

Miranda East took the loss despite allowing just one earned run, striking out four and not walking a single batter.

East finishes the year at 11-6.

The Chieftains managed just three hits, one each by Katie Lorenz, Sierra Herter and Kiele Belew.

The second game was a completely different story.

Dowagiac roared out of the gate with four runs and never looked back.

The Chieftains (23-12, 13-5 Wolverine) scored three more in the second inning to extend its advantage to 7-0.

Four more runs in the fifth inning ended the game early.

“In the second game we came out quickly with our bats and ended the season on a good note,” Behnke said. “It was nice to see Torie (Lowe) have a big last game of her career with a double and 2 RBIs in her last at bat and picking a runner off first for the last out of the game.”

Lowe finished the game 3-for-4, while Belew was 3-for-3 and Lorenz 2-for-4.

Dowagiac also got a double and two RBIs from Herter.

Tara Sova (12-6) tossed a two-hitter with four strikeouts to cap the season.

First game
Otsego 000 002 0 – 2 6 4
Dowagiac 000 010 0 – 1 3 0
Miranda East (L, 11-6) and Torie Lowe
Molly Sleeman (W) and Lydia Meyer
2B: Riley Karman (O)

Second game
Dowagiac 430 04 – 11 12 0
Otsego 000 00 – 0 2 2
Tara Sova (W, 12-6) and Torie Lowe
Jill Hascill (L) and Lydia Meyer
2B: Lowe (D) 2, Sierra Herter (D)
Varsity record: Dowagiac 23-12, 13-5 Wolverine

Dowagiac baseball
The Dowagiac baseball team completed its season with a split as well.

Dowagiac won the opener 9-3 and dropped the nightcap 4-1.

The Chieftains (17-18, 10-8 Wolverine) came out on fire in the opening game, scoring eight of its nine runs in the first two innings.

Dowagiac finished with 10 hits in the game led by seniors Andrew Kurdelmeyer, who had three singles and two RBIs, and Cody Cox, who doubled and drove in a pair of runs.

Zac Hyatt finished with a double and two singles, while Brett Scanlon doubled and drove in a pair.

Jason Turner also had two hits.

Cox picked up the win as he went the distance, tossing a three-hitter with four strikeouts.

“All three seniors performed very well in the first game,” Dowagiac coach Bryan Henry said. “Cox pitched a gem and Kurd had three hits. It was nice to see the seniors go out in style.”

In the nightcap, Aaron Blaske pitched well according to Henry, but the Chieftains managed just eight hits with six strikeouts.

Jason Turner, Cox, Scanlon, Cal Cox, Kurdelmeyer and Cody Carnell each had a hit.

First game
Otsego 011 001 0 – 3 3 1
Dowagiac 440 100 x 9 10 2
Cody Cox (W, 4-2) and Brett Scanlon
Klein (L)
2B: Zac Hyatt (D), Cox (D), Scanlon (D)

Second game
Dowagiac 000 010 0 – 1 6 3
Otsego 101 200 x – 4 8 0
Potter (W)
Aaron Blaske (L), 3-4) and Brett Scanlon
Varsity record: Dowagiac 17-18, 10-8 Wolverine