By By SCOTT NOVAK / Dowagiac Daily News
EDWARDSBURG -- The modest three-game winning streak of the Dowagiac varsity baseball team came to a halt in the second game of a non-league doubleheader with Edwardsburg Tuesday night.
Dowagiac (3-1) won the South Haven Invitational on Saturday and took the first game from the Eddies, 9-3, before committing six errors in the nightcap and losing 8-5.
The second game was called after four and a half innings due to darkness.
Jason McIntyre picked up his second victory of the season in the first game as he allowed two runs on four hits with seven strikeouts and a walk. Brandon Zachary worked the seventh for the Chieftains.
Dowagiac jumped all over the Eddies early in the contest, opening a 5-0 lead before Edwardsburg (1-1) scored single runs in the third and fourth innings to close the gap to 5-2.
Dowagiac sealed the victory with a four-run seventh inning.
The Chieftains finished with 11 hits in the opener, led by Jeff Cooper's 4-for-4 performance which included four RBIs. Dowagiac also got a single, a double and an RBI from both Chris Singleton and Eddie Campbell. Jonathon Bartee added a double, while Matt Stewart was 1-for-3 with an RBI.
Edwardsburg finished with eight hits, led by Jesse Johnson who was 2-for-4. Scott Mellen added a double.
Ben Horton took the loss as he worked four innings, allowing eight hits with three strikeouts.
The Eddies took advantage of walks and errors to score six unearned runs in the first inning of the nightcap.
Anthony Peak delivered a two-run single in the first inning for Edwardsburg.
Dowagiac cut the lead to 6-1 in the top half of the second inning, but Edwardsburg scored single runs in the second and third innings to open up an 8-1 advantage.
The Chieftains tried to rally in the fourth inning as they scored four times as darkness encompassed the playing field.
Zach Rooney earned the victory for the Eddies in the nightcap with relief help from Nathan Peak.
Edwardsburg finished with four hits, while Dowagiac had seven hits.
Bartee was 2-for-3 with a triple, while Stewart was 2-for-3 with a double and three RBIs.
Dowagiac returns to action on Thursday when it hosts defending state champion Decatur in its home opener. The twinbill at Rotary Park is scheduled to begin at 11 a.m.
First Game
Dowagiac 032 000 4 -- 9 11 2
Edwardsburg 001 100 1 -- 3 8 2
Jason McIntyre (W, 2-0), Brandon Zachary (7) and Matt Stewart; Brian Bortz (L, 0-1), Ben Horton (5) and Scott Mellen.
2B: Chris Singleton (D), Jonathon Bartee (D), Ed Campbell (D), Scott Mellen (E).
Second Game
Dowagiac 010 04 -- 5 7 6
Edwardsburg 611 0x -- 8 4 2
Chris Singleton (L, 0-1), Jeff Cooper (2), Jonathon Bartee (2), Davey Moran (4) and Matt Stewart; Zach Rooney (W, 1-0), Nathan Peak (4) and Nathan Peak, Scott Mellen (4).
2B: Stewart (D).
3B: Jonathon Bartee (D).