Visiting Dowagiac needed a last inning run to secure a split with Three Rivers in Wolverine Conference softball Tuesday.

After dropping the opening game to the Wildcats 8-2, in a game that featured seven Dowagiac errors, the Chieftains stretched a 3-2 lead into a two-run advantage with a run in the top-half of the seventh inning.

With two outs, Amiyah Smith hit a solo home run to extend the Dowagiac lead to 4-2.

Dowagiac would need that extra run as Three Rivers scored in the bottom of the seventh on an error and a single.

Taylor Hulett, who suffered the opening game loss despite not allowing an earned run, picked up the victory as she scattered six hits and struck out six.

Smith was 3-for-4 with an RBI, while Taylor Pye doubled for the Chieftains.

“Making routine plays continues to plague us in the first game tonight,” said Dowagiac coach Mike Behnke. “You can’t beat good teams making six or seven errors. In the swings game we bounced back and played much better in the field. But the real victory tonight is how we came together as a team.”

The Chieftains return to action Friday as they host Allegan in a Wolverine Conference doubleheader scheduled to begin at 4 p.m.

 

DOWAGIAC 2-4, THREE RIVERS 8-3

At Three Rivers

First game

Dowagiac       100      001      0 – 2 7 7

Three Rivers 100      106      x – 8 6 0

1. Nash (W); Taylor Hulett (L).

2B: Taylor Pye (D), H. Carpenter (TR).

 

Second game

Dowagiac       000      300      1 – 4 6 2

Three Rivers 002      000      1 – 3 6 2

Taylor Hulett (W); K. Nash (L).

2B: Taylor Pye (D).

3B: K. Eldridge (TR).

HR: Amiyah Smith (D).

Varsity record: Dowagiac 14-8.