By By SCOTT NOVAK / Dowagiac Daily News
A throwing error in the bottom of the seventh with two outs allowed host South Bend (Ind.) Riley to earn a split against the Dowagiac varsity softball team Thursday evening.
The Chieftains won the first game 4-0 on a two-hitter by Brittney Reist, but dropped the nightcap, 1-0.
Riley's Maggie Swanson stole third and scored on a throwing error to give South Bend the victory.
In the first game Dowagiac and Riley were knotted in a scoreless contest until the fifth inning when Dowagiac scored a run. The Chieftains added a run in the sixth and two in the seventh to complete the scoring.
Reist struck out eight, did not walk a batter and allowed just two hits in improving her record to 4-1.
Brittany Bruens went 3-for-4 with two stolen bases for the Chieftains. Holly Lowe was 2-for-3 with a triple, while Kim Luthringer was 2-for-4 with an RBI.
Mandy Parish and Reist both had a single and an RBI. Ashley Willis also drove in a run.
In the nightcap, Willis pitched well enough to win. Willis fanned seven, walked one and allowed just four hits.
Dowagiac finished with three hits as Luthringer went 2-for-3 with a double and Lindsay Tyler singled.
Dowagiac (9-2) retuns to action on Monday when it travels to Three Rivers for a non-conference doubleheader beginning at 4 p.m.