By By SCOTT NOVAK / Dowagiac Daily News
The Dowagiac varsity baseball team swept a non-league doubleheader from visiting River Valley Thursday afternoon.
The Chieftains (6-2) won the opening game 7-5 and then took the nightcap, 6-4.
Scott Wilkinson (1-0) fired a five-hitter over six innings to pick up his first win of the season. Wilkinson allowed three runs.
Jake Cox worked the seventh inning to pick up the save.
Wilkinson helped his own cause with two of Dowagiac's four hits.
Jesse Cox had a two-run single to tie the game in the second inning, while Nick File added a run-scoring single.
In the second game, Jamie Simpson worked six and a third innings to earn his second victory of the season. Simpson allowed four runs on three hits with three strike outs and three walks.
Jesse Cox worked the final two outs in the seventh to pick up a save.
Simpson, like Wilkerson, helped his own cause with a solo home run in the bottom of the third.
Schuyler File also homered, a two-run shot in the first inning to help stake the Chieftains to a 3-0 lead.
File added two more hits and an RBI in the second game. David Stuppy also had two hits, while Mike Kasper had a single and an RBI.
Dowagiac returns to action on Monday when it travels to Three Rivers.
for a non-conference doubleheader. The first game is scheduled to begin at 4 p.m.