Dowagiac splits with Bulldogs

Published 3:19 pm Thursday, April 24, 2008

By By SCOTT NOVAK / Dowagiac Daily News
Another Wolverine Conference doubleheader ended up as another split for the Dowagiac varsity baseball team Wednesday afternoon.
The Chieftains, who are running short on pitching due to a busy schedule and injuries, are now 3-3 in the conference and 7-5 overall.
Dowagiac won the opening game 17-7 in five innings, thanks to 16 hits and no defensive errors.
In the nightcap, Vicksburg pulled out a 9-7 win in a game that called after five innings due to darkness.
"We played in game one offensively and defensively," Dowagiac coach Andy Kruger said. "Game two, we did not get the hits when we needed them. We make too many mental mistakes and time ran out as umpires called the game due to darkness in the top of five."
Cody Cox earned the victory in the opening game with relief help from Jamie Simpson.
Dowagiac scored two runs in the first three runs in the second and fourth innings, a run in the fourth and seven runs in the bottom of the fifth to ended the game by the mercy rule.
Simpson was 3-for-4 at the plate with a double off the top of the fence in centerfield and a pair of RBIs.
Tyler First doubled, singled and drove in a run, while Kyle Prak tripled and picked up two RBIs. Jake Kling singled, doubled and drove in three runs.
Jason Fryman singled twice and had two RBIs. Jake Cox and Tim DeRyder both finished with a pair of singles.
In the nightcap, Tanner Melvin took the loss. Simpson also took the hill in the second game in relief of starter Troy Stover.
Kyle Prak had a two-run single for the Chieftains in the second game. DeRyder, First and Keith Prak also had hits.
First Game
Vicksburg 100 51 – 7 8 4
Dowagiac 231 37 – 17 16 0
WP – Cody Cox (D), Jamie Simpson (4) and Jake Kling
LP – Jon Peterson and Mike Callahan
2B: Simpson (D), Tyler First (D), Jake Kling (D), Callahan (V)
Second Game
Dowagiac 202 12 – 7 4 3
Vicksburg 121 1 x – 9 7 1
WP – Maple (V) and Callahan
LP – Tanner Melvin (D), Troy Stover, Jamie Simpson and Jake Kling
Record
Dowagiac 7-5, 3-3