By By SCOTT NOVAK / Dowagiac Daily News
Visiting Dowagiac got a taste of what the Wolverine Conference is going to be like in softball on Monday afternoon.
The Chieftains swept a non-conference doubleheader from host Three Rivers, but Dowagiac had to work overtime to do so.
The Chieftains (11-2) handed Three Rivers (9-2) its first loss of the season in the opening game, 5-2. Dowagiac then completed the sweep by scoring nine runs in the eighth inning for the 14-5 victory.
Brittney Reist improved her record to 5-1 on the year by tossing a two-hitter with 10 strike outs. Reist did not walk a batter.
Brittany Bruens, Mandy Parish and Holly Lowe all went 2-for-4. Lowe drove in two runs for the Chieftains. Ashley Willis had a single and an RBI for Dowagiac.
In the second game, Willis went the distance to pick up her fourth victory of the season. She allowed seven hits with 11 strike outs and four walks.
Dowagiac finished with 19 hits in the contest, led by Amy Wood who was 4-for-5 with two RBIs. Parish was 3-for-5 with a double and two RBIs, while Reist was 3-for-5 with two RBIs.
Kim Luthringer went 2-for-5, while Lowe was 2-for-4. Beth Tomczak, Valerie Johnson and Bruens all had a single and an RBI for the Chieftains.
Dowagiac returns to action today against host Benton Harbor in Big 16 Conference West Division play beginning at 4:30. On Wednesday the Chieftains head south of the border once again, this time to take on Mishawaka (Ind.) at 5:30 p.m. (Michigan time).
First game
Dowagiac 203 000 0 - 5 9 1
Three Rivers 100 001 0 - 2 3 1
Brittney Reist (W, 5-1), Brooke Carpenter (L)
Second game
Dowagiac 003 110 09 - 14 19 1
Three Rivers 100 020 20 - 5 7 3
Ashley Willis (W, 4-1), Brooke Carpenter (L)
2B: Mandy Parish (D), Michelle Parker (TR)
Varsity records: Dowagiac 11-2, Three Rivers 9-2