By By SCOTT NOVAK / Niles Daily Star
DOWAGIAC - Host Dowagiac scored 22 runs and pounded out 23 hits in sweeping a Big 16 Conference West Division doubleheader from Niles Tuesday afternoon.
The Chieftains scored a 12-1 win over the Lady Vikings in the opening game and then completed the sweep with a 10-2 win in the nightcap.
With the sweep, Dowagiac improves its record to 19-4 overall and 6-0 in the West Division.
"We hit the ball hard tonight up and down the line up," Dowagiac coach Mike Behnke said. "Our hitters are really starting to warm up their bats. I will take 23 hits in a doubleheader any day. We also got good defense and good pitching which all adds up to two well executed conference victories."
Dowagiac jumped out to a 7-0 lead in the first game after two innings of play. The Lady Vikings (6-16, 0-4 SMAC West) scored their lone run in the top of the third.
Dowagiac scored a single run in the bottom of the third and the completed the scoring with four runs in the fourth inning.
Dowagiac finished with 12 hits, including two each from Mandy Parish, Amy Wood, Lindsay Tyler and Brittany Bruens.
Parish and Wood both drove in two runs.
Dowagiac also got a hit and two RBIs from Brittney Reist and Ashley Willis. Holly Lowe and Kim Luthringer singled and drove in a run.
Reist went the distance to improve to 8-2 on the season. The senior hurler allowed one run on three hits with five strike outs and no walks.
Julie Kater took the loss for the Lady Vikings.
In the nightcap, Niles grabbed a 2-0 lead with a pair of runs in the second inning, however, Dowagiac scored three runs in the bottom of the third to take the lead.
The Chieftains scored six runs in the fourth inning and one in the fifth to complete the scoring.
Willis (7-2) went the distance, allowing two runs on four hits with three strike outs. Willis did not walk a batter.
Dowagiac finished with 11 hits in the second game.
Reist homered and drove in three runs, while Parish doubled and drove in a pair of runs. Wood also doubled, while Willis had two hits and two RBIs.
Lowe and Bruens both had two hits. Lowe also drove in a run. Luthringer and Tyler each had a single and an RBI.
Niles finished with four hits, including a double by Kayla Gross.
The Vikings will face River Valley on Thursday. Game time is set for 4:30 p.m.
Niles 001 00 - 1 3 1
Dowagiac 071 4x - 12 12 0
Brittney Reist (W, 8-2), Julie Kater (L, x-x)
Second game
Niles 020 000 0 - 2 4 4
Dowagiac 003 610 x - 10 11
Ashley Wilis (W, 7-2), Kylee Mudd (L, x-x)
2B: Kayla Gross (N), Mandy Parish (D), Amy Wood (D)
HR: Brittney Reist (D)
Varsity records: Niles 6-15, 0-4 SMAC West; Dowagiac 19-4, 6-0 SMAC West