One big inning stood between the Dowagiac softball team and a sweep of Otsego Friday.

The Chieftains led the Bulldogs 3-2 heading into the top half of the seventh inning of the first game of its Wolverine Conference clash, but gave up three runs to fall 5-3.

A four-run fourth inning erased a 2-1 Dowagiac advantage in the nightcap and allowed Otsego to get the sweep with a 5-2 victory.

“I told the girls in the outfield there after the game that I’m tired of beating a dead horse,” Dowagiac coach Mike Behnke said. “They know what they are doing wrong and it’s just a matter of them overcoming those mistakes. We are just making simple mistakes and they are absolutely killing us.”

Dowagiac committed five miscues in the opening game and six errors on the day.

In the opening, the Chieftains were limited to just one hit, a solo home by Rachel Bailey in the sixth inning to give Dowagiac to a 3-2 advantage.

In the second game, the Chieftains outhit the Bulldogs (6-5), but couldn’t produce with runners in scoring position.

Courtney Hunsberger had half of Dowagiac’s hits with three singles.

Katie Ward suffered the loss in the first game, while Tori Smith took the loss in the nightcap.

First game

Otsego 110 000 3 – 5 7 2

Dowagiac 200 001 0 – 3 1 5

Kait Mills (W) and Lydia Moyer; Katie Ward (L) and Kourtney Mitchell

2B: Rachel White (O), Moyer (O)

HR: Rachel Bailey (D)

Second game

Dowagiac 110 000 0 – 2 6 1

Otsego 010 400 x – 5 5 2

Kait Mills (W) and Lydia Moyer; Tori Smith (L) and Kourtney Mitchell

2B: Erica Ullrey (O)