Despite pounding out 30 hits and scoring 26 runs in a sweep of visiting Brandywine in non-league softball, Dowagiac coach Mike Behnke was less than impressed with several aspects his team’s effort Tuesday.

The Chieftains (26-8) defeated the Bobcats (13-17) 8-4 in the opening game and then 18-8 in the five-inning nightcap.

“We were a little sloppy tonight after having played well our last four games,” Behnke said. “We had way too many base running mistakes that took us out of big innings and we are leaving way too many runners on base. We will have to get better on Thursday versus Berrien.”

Taylor Hullett scattered six seven hits with 14 strikeouts in winning the first game for the Chieftains.

Hannah Whitaker had three of Dowagiac’s 13 hits, including a double. Marissa Dodd singled and drove in a run, while Megan Soderbloom had two hits, including a double, and an RBI.

Makenna Hartline and Sydney Carlson both had two hits for the Bobcats, while Grace Polomcak drove in a pair of runs.

Destiny Bennett suffered the loss.

In the second game, Soderbloom went the distance giving up six hits with six strikeouts.

The Chieftains finished with 17 hits in the nightcap.

Soderbloom was 3-for-4 with three RBIs, while Alyssa Allen was 4-for-4 with an RBI. Shelby Jackson also had three hits and two RBIs for the Chieftains, who also got a single, a triple and two RBIs from Dodd.

Kailey Fear was 2-for-4 with a home run and four RBIs.

Makenna and Michaela Hartline both hit home runs and combined for three RBIs to pace the Bobcats.

 

DOWAGIAC 8-18, BRANDYWINE 4-8

At Dowagiac

First game

Brandywine  200     010     1 – 4 7 1

Dowagiac      141     020     x – 8 13 2

Taylor Hulett (W); Destiny Bennett (L), Audrey Longley (5)

2B: (D) Megan Soderbloom, Hannah Whitaker.

 

Second game

Brandywine  000     53 – 8 6 4

Dowagiac      541     35 – 18 17 2

Soderbloom (W); Longley (L), Riley Balos (3).

2B: (D) Whitaker.

3B: (D) Marissa Dodd.

HR: (D) Kailey Fear; (B) McKenna Hartline, McKayla Hartline.

Varsity records: Dowagiac 26-8, Brandywine 13-17.