A three-run seventh helped visiting Brandywine sweep a non-league baseball doubleheader with Dowagiac at Rotary Park Wednesday.

The Bobcats defeated the Chieftains 9-6 in the opener and scored six runs in the first inning of the nightcap en route to a 9-3 win.

The second game was called after five innings due to darkness.

“It was nice to get out on the field and bounce back from two tough losses the day before,” Brandywine coach David Sidenbender said. “I thought Cole Searles did a nice job of pounding the strike zone in both games. We are really going to need him.

“We just want to keep working hard and trying to get better, especially at the plate. Our goal is quality at bats and trying to string six or seven of them in a row. Not necessarily hits just good solid at bats.”

With the game deadlocked at 6-6 going into the top half of the seventh, Brandywine got an RBI single from Joe Covyeou and a two-run single from Scott Miller to take the lead.

Searles struck out two of the three batters he faced in the bottom of the seventh to seal the victory.

Dowagiac coach Dan Schuchardt said he feels his team is not taking advantage of its opportunities.

The Chieftains left 10 runners on base in the first game.

“We need to improve at getting timely hits with runners in scoring position,” he said. “We have been in every game this year it seems and we are leaving runners in scoring position many times a game. It has happened too many times early this season.”

Hunter Janowiak was 3-for-4 including a double for Brandywine, which also got two hits from Zach Grishaber, Brady Duval, Toby Fox, Covyeou and Searles.

Collin Hassle was 3-for-4 for the Chieftains, who also got two hits from Nick Foote and Zech Huston, including a double.

Brett Jacobs was 2-for-3 with a double for Brandywine in the second game. Vinny Peel had a pair of hits and three RBIS, while Jeshua Wiese drove in a pair of runs.

Chance Wernlund had two of Dowagiac’s six hits in the nightcap.

 

BRANDYWINE 8-9, DOWAGIAC 6-3

At Dowagiac

First game

Brandywine   104     100     3 – 9 14 3

Dowagiac        110     220     0 – 6 13 1

Austin Balos (W), Cole Searles (5); Ellijah Williams (L), Mack Charles (7)

2B: Zach Grishaber (BW), Searles (BW), Hunter Janowiak (BW), Zech Huston (D).

 

Second game

Brandywine   612     00 – 9 8 3

Dowagiac        012     00 – 3 6 3

Joe Covyeou (W), Cole Searles (4); Adrien Bucha-Moore (L), Brandon Felthouse (2)

2B: Brett Jacobs (BW), Mack Charles (D) 2.

Varsity records: Brandywine 9-3, Dowagiac