Softball sweeps are caused by good pitching, hitting and defense which is what Dowagiac got Tuesday against Wolverine Conference member Gull Lake.

The Chieftains were victorious by the scores of 8-6 and 8-1.

Dowagiac (14-10, 9-3) came back from an early 6-1 deficit in the opener with junior Sierra Herter providing three RBIs with a pair of singles in the fourth and sixth inning.

“Sierra (Herter) had three hits in each game and it means good things for us if she continues to hit like she is capable,” stated Dowagiac coach Mike Behnke. “They wanted to win and really cared about coming back from being behind 6-1 as the first couple innings we were making dumb mistakes with their bunts.”

Gull Lake (24-6, 10-4) had only four hits in the first game against senior Miranda East, but after each team scored once in the first inning the Blue Devils small balled their way for a five run third stanza.

“Our bunts kept them off balance early, but then they stopped it for the rest of the games,” commented Gull Lake coach Katie Smith.

Narrowing the deficit to 6-3 with a pair of runs in the fourth inning, the Chiefs batted through the line-up in a five-run sixth stanza, which was led by back-to-back doubles by senior Devon Ownby and sophomore Rachel Bailey. Senior Tara Sova collected a run scoring single in each the fourth and sixth innings.

East was the winner on the mound with Sova taking over in the second game with freshman Courtney Senkewitz being charged with the defeats for Gull Lake

The Chiefs kept the momentum with all eight runs being scored in the first three innings with the middle being another five-run encounter and Sova allowed only an infield single going into the fourth inning.

“Miranda (East) has struggled early in games this year and then has settled down,” noted Behnke about his two senior starting pitchers. “Tara (Sova) was very effective with her change up and kept them off balance.”

Dowagiac benefited by a Blue Devil miscue in each the first two innings as only one of the seven runs were credited to Senkewitz. Junior Alyssa Olsen came in during the third inning and blanked the Chiefs the rest of the way.

Herter had a double and two singles in the nightcap with senior Kiele Belew knocking Bailey across home plate in each of the first two innings.

“Dowagiac is tough and hit the ball well, but this is my third year as a coach and they have beaten us all three times in double headers,” said Smith. “We need to forget about it and go on from here.”

Sova gave up six hits and struck out eight Gull Lake batters with the only run being in the sixth inning with juniors Courtney Mast and Erika Olsen collecting a single and double, respectively.

“Gull Lake is very well coached as she (Katie Smith) played for her dad at Portage Northern,” concluded Behnke. “Some girls that struggled earlier in the season are starting to get their strokes back.”

First game

Gull Lake 105 000 0 – 6 4 3

Dowagiac 100 205 x – 8 11 0

Miranda East (W) and Devon Ownby

Courtney Senkewitz (L) and Courtney Mast

2B: Katie Lorenz (D) 2, Rachel Bailey (D) and Ownby (D)

Second Game

Dowagiac 251 000 0 – 8 10 2

Gull Lake 000 001 0 – 1 6 2

Tara Sova (W) and Devon Ownby

Courtney Senkewitz (L) and Courtney Mast

2B: Sierra Herter (D) and Erika Olsen (GL)

Varsity records: Gull Lake 24-6, 10-4 Wolverine; Dowagiac 14-10, 9-3 Wolverine