For the third time in four days, a team ranked in the top 10 in the state stood between Dowagiac and victory.

Monday, No. 10-ranked (Division 2) St. Joseph swept the Chieftains, while on Tuesday, No. 6-ranked (Division 2) Edwardsburg took two from Dowagiac.

Thursday’s opponent, Buchanan, came into the non-league doubleheader undefeated and ranked No. 5 in Division 3.

The Bucks defeated the Chieftains 9-5 in the opening game to improve to 13-0 on the season.

But a gutty performance by Dowgiac’s Taylor Hullett in the nightcap helped Dowagiac defeat Buchanan 6-5 in 10 innings.

“We got a much needed win tonight against very good team,” Dowagiac coach Mike Behnke said. “We scrapped and fought and played hard to pull this win out and we hadn’t done that this week.”

Hulett, who went the distance allowing five runs on 10 hits with 13 strikeouts, drove in the tying run in the bottom of the 10th and eventually scored the winning run on a wild pitch.

The sophomore was 2-for-4 with a double and ended up with four hits on the day.

Dowagiac made the most of six hits in the nightcap. Megan Soderbloom was 2-for-3.

“I give credit to the girls,” Behke said. “They never gave up and battled through some bad calls and great plays by Buchanan’s infield. We executed the bunt well starting in the seventh inning and in extra innings and were able to score each time we did. That’s what good teams do.”

In the first game, Alyssa Allen hit a three-run home run for the Chieftains, while Megan Huey hit her first career home run.

Buchanan got a pair of home runs from Morgan Richer, while Jade Mosier added a home run.

 

BUCHANAN 8-5, DOWAGIAC 5-6

At Dowagiac

First Game

Buchanan       140     300     1 – 9 11 1

Dowagiac        310     010     0 – 5 8 1

Maddie Hemphill (W); Megan Soderbloom (L), Sabrina Ruiz (5)

2B: Sammi Luzadre (B), Morgan Lenox (B) 2

3B: Emma Schmidt (B)

HR: Morgan Richer (B) 2, Jade Mosier (B), Alyssa Allen (D), Megan Huey (D)

 

Second Game

Buchanan       210     000     010     1 – 5 6 3

Dowagiac        110     000     110     2 – 6 6 3

Sammi Luzadre (L); Taylor Hulett (W)

2B: Taylor Hulett (D)

Varsity records: Buchanan 13-1, Dowagiac 12-9