Chieftains sweep Panthers
Published 9:02 am Thursday, May 5, 2016
Visiting Dowagiac broke out the bats in the opening game of its non-conference doubleheader against Watervliet Tuesday.
Megan Huey had a double as the Chieftains won a pair of non-conference softball games from host Watervliet Tuesday. Dowagiac is now 15-4 on the year. (Leader file photo/SCOTT NOVAK)
The Chieftains scored 11 runs on 16 hits to earn an 11-0 victory in six innings.
Dowagiac (15-4) had to withstand a five-run seventh inning in the nightcap to edge the Panthers 8-7 to complete the sweep.
“We had maybe our hardest hitting game of the season in the first game,” Dowagiac coach Mike Behnke said. “We really drove the ball hard and to the gaps. We also ran the bases extremely well and picked up a lot of extra bases.
“In the second game, I think we started to coast a little bit once we got up and then we made a few mistakes and let them back in the game in the last inning. We need to learn that can’t happen against good competition if we expect to finish and win games.”
Mickie Kiggins had a pair of doubles for the Chieftains in the first game, while Megan Huey and Taylor Hulett also doubled. Marissa Dodd added a triple.
In the second game, Hulett, Megan Soderbloom and Amiyah Smith all tripled.
Hulett was the winning pitcher in both games.
DOWAGIAC 11-8, WATERVLIET 0-7
First game
Dowagiac 200 144 – 11 16 2
Watervliet 000 000 – 0 5 1
Taylor Hulett (W); Kiles (L).
2B: Mickie Kiggins (D) 2, Megan Huey (D), Hulett (D).
3B: Marissa Dodd (D).
Second game
Dowagiac 150 020 0 – 8 12 3
Watervliet 000 020 5 – 7 7 1 Taylor Hulett (W), Megan Soderblooom (5); Rowe (L).
3B: Hulett (D), Soderbloom (D), Amiyah Smith (D).
Varsity record: Dowagiac 15-4.
