By By SCOTT NOVAK / Dowagiac Daily News
STEVENSVILLE - After a pair of gift runs to open the game, the Dowagiac softball team blew out St. Joseph in a Division 2 pre-district contest at Lakeshore High School, 9-0.
The Chieftains, ranked No. 6 in the latest poll, scored in every inning but two as it eliminated the Lady Bears from the post season.
Dowagiac advances to Saturday's semifinal against Edwardsburg at noon.
The Chieftains (30-4) scored a pair of unearned runs in the top half of the first inning and then scored earned runs in the second, third, fourth and seventh innings.
Dowagiac scored two runs in the second, three runs in the fourth and single runs in the third and seventh innings.
Senior pitcher Brittney Reist tossed a four-hitter with five strike outs to improve to 14-2 on the season. Reist did not walk a batter.
Dowagiac banged out eight hits against St. Joseph's Mandi Rodriguez, who struck out three and walked four.
Lindsay Tyler was 2-for-4 to lead the Chieftains offensively. Dowagiac also got a double and two RBIs from Holly Lowe while Mandy Parish singled and drove in two runs.
Brittany Bruens, Kim Luthringer all added hits and RBIs. Amy Wood had Dowagiac's other hit.
Picking up hits for the Lady Bears were Rodriquez, Jordan Goslee, Michelle Bendewald and Amanda Wygant.
Behnke noted that his infielders played well on an extremely hard infield.
Defending district and state champion Lakeshore will play against Niles in the first semifinal on Saturday beginning at 10 a.m.
The finals are scheduled for 2 p.m.
Dowagiac 221 300 1 - 9 8 2
St. Joseph 000 000 0 - 0 4 5
Brittney Reist (W, 14-2), Mandi Rodriquez (L)
2B: Holly Lowe (D)
Varsity record: Dowagiac 30-4