By By SCOTT NOVAK / Dowagiac Daily News
Dowagiac senior Kelly Tomczak established a new school record for strikeouts Thursday afternoon as the Chieftains swept host Benton Harbor in Big-16 Conference West Division softball action.
The Chieftains (11-1, 2-0) won the opener, 12-0. Dowagiac then took the nightcap, 13-0.
Tomczak snapped the record she held with teammate Jenna Stuppy as she fanned 17 in tossing a no-hitter.
The old record of 14 strikeouts was set last season by both Tomczak and Stuppy.
Dowagiac scored seven runs over the first three innings to quickly turn the game into a rout. Dowagiac added two runs in the fifth and then three runs in the seventh to account for its scoring.
The Chieftains finished with 13 hits, including a double and a triple from both Brianne Reist and Jenna Stuppy. Rachel Minikel also doubled, while Kim Luthringer had a pair of singles.
Brittney Reist took the mound for the first time in her varsity career and tossed a two-hitter with 13 strikeouts in the second game.
Dowagiac scored single runs in the first and second innings before exploding for seven runs in the third and four more in the fourth. The game was ended in the fifth due to the mercy rule.
Brianne Reist doubled and singled twice for the Chieftains, who also got a double and a single from Stuppy. Jessica Nelson, playing in her first game of the season, had three hits for the Chieftains.
Brittney Reist finished with two singles as Dowagiac pounded out 15 hits in the nightcap.
Dowagiac has now won five straight games since suffering its lone loss of the season to No. 1 (Division 2A) Andrean (Ind.)
Dowagiac will take the weekend off before returning to action on Monday when it heads to Three Rivers for a non-conference doubleheader.
First Game
Dowagiac 241 020 3 -- 12 13 1
Benton Harbor 000 000 0 -- 0 0 5
Kelly Tomczak (W, 5-0), Farley (L)
2B: Brianne Reist (D), Rachel Minikel (D), Jenna Stuppy (D)
3B: Reist (D), Stuppy (D)
Second Game
Dowagiac 117 40 -- 13 15 0
Benton Harbor 000 00 -- 0 2 4
Brittney Reist (W, 1-0), Farly (L)
2B: Brianne Reist (D), Jenna Stuppy (D)
3B: Finley (BH)