By SCOTT NOVAK
Dowagiac Daily News

The Dowagiac baseball team dropped three out of four weekend games as it dipped to 11-14 overall.

The Chieftains split their Wolverine Conference doubleheader with Plainwell on Friday afternoon and then was swept by visiting Buchanan on Saturday.

Buchanan…17-9
Dowagiac…6-2
The Chieftains came out flat against Buchanan Saturday morning and promptly fell behind 5-1 after just an inning of play.

The Bucks kept up the offensive pressure and after scoring a run in the second, tacked on four runs in the third and seven runs in the fourth inning.

Buchanan added a run in the fifth and final inning.

David Sokolowski picked up the victory for the Bucks. He also had a double.

Brandon Jackson doubled for Buchanan, which outhit Dowagiac 13-7.

Mike Pranschke had a pair of hits and Cal Cox drove in two runs for the Chieftains. Jason Turner singled and drove in a run.

A five-run fourth inning broke open a close second game for the Bucks.

Bryan Kuntz earned the victory for Buchanan.

Jackson had a triple for the Bucks, who also got doubles from Tyler Powers and Dalton Shearer. Jackson finished with seven hits on the day and six RBIs.

Zac Hyatt drove in both runs for the Chieftains, who finished with just four hits.

Andrew Kurdelmeyer suffered the loss.

First game
Buchanan 514 71 – 17 15 4
Dowagiac 101 04 – 6 7 3
David Sokolowski (W) and Brandon Jackson
Aaron Blaske (L), Jason Turner, Cody Darnell and Brett Scanlon
2B: Sokolowski (B), Brandon Jackson (B)

Second game
Buchanan 120 51 – 9 9 2
Dowagiac 002 00 – 2 4 1
Bryan Kuntz (W) and Brandon Jackson
Andrew Kurdelmeyer (D), Cody Carnell and Jason Turner
2B: Tyler Powers (B), Shearer (B)
3B: Brandon Jackson (B)
Varsity record: Buchanan 14-7, Dowagiac 11-14

Plainwell…13-3
Dowagiac…6-5
Dowagiac got off to a slow start against Plainwell as well on Friday afternoon, giving up 10 runs in the first two innings.

The Trojans went on to win 13-6 in the opener, but couldn’t hold off the Chieftains in the nightcap as Dowagiac posted a 5-3 victory.

Turner had four hits, including a double in the opening game for the Chieftains.

Cox had a pair of hits and two RBIs, while Hyatt singled and drove in a run.

Blaske took the loss.

A five-run fourth inning was all the Chieftains needed in the nightcap.

Plainwell cut the lead to 5-3 in the bottom of the fifth, but that was as close the Trojans would get.

Turner went the distance, tossing a two-hitter with six strikeouts to earn the victory.

He also singled, doubled and drove in two runs.

Kurdelmeyer and Cox both picked up RBIs.

Dowagiac will travel to Gull Lake on Tuesday.

First game
Plainwell 460 101 1 – 13 12 0
Dowagiac 010 500 0 – 6 9 4
Tyria (W); Aaron Blaske (L, 2-2)
2B: Jason Turner (D)

Second game
Dowagiac 000 500 0 – 5 6 4
Plainwell 100 020 0 – 3 2 3
Turner (W, 2-5); Dunham (L)
2B: Alex Miller (D), Jason Turner (D)
Varsity record: Dowagiac 5-5 Wolverine Conference