NILES — The fortunes of the Brandywine baseball team certainly have changed over the past 10 days.

The Bobcats started the year 9-1, which included a season-opening win against 2018 district champion Schoolcraft.

But since sweeping New Buffalo in a non-league doubleheader on May 3, Brandywine has lost seven of its last eight games, including a pair of BCS Red Division champion Buchanan Wednesday afternoon.

The struggles have seen the Bobcats’ record drop to 13-9.

According to veteran coach David Sidenbender, it has been a combination of challenges that have led to the Brandywine woes.

Among them have been the quality of opponents.

Buchanan is the No. 10-ranked team in Division 3 while Centreville is the No. 19-ranked squad. River Valley is ranked No. 17 in Division 4.

“Buchanan is a very good, experienced team and a quality conference champ. Congrats to them,” Sidenbender said. “We are a young team still and are trying to continue to play consistent baseball in all aspects of the game.”

Buchanan blanked the Bobcats 5-0 in the opening game and then completed the sweep with an 11-1 victory in the nightcap.

The Bucks had 12 hits in the opener, but had issues getting runs across the plate.

After single runs in the first two innings, the Bobcats were able to keep it close until giving up a pair of runs in the fifth.

“Ty (Mickiewicz) pitched well I thought and we played good defense at times,” Sidenbender said. “We did not have a lot of quality at bats. Their pitching had a lot to do with that for sure.”

Buchanan ace Jacob Hoover had an interesting pitching line for the Bucks.

He gave up one hit, struck out 12 and did not walk a batter. Hoover did, however, hit five Brandywine batters, including Gabe Goins twice.

Sam Riley had three of Buchanan’s 12 hits and drove in four runs.

Hoover, Brad VanOverberghe and Brandon Rogers all finished with two hits.

Connor Janowiak had the lone Brandywine hit.

VanOverberghe was equally dominating in the nightcap.

He tossed a four-hitter with five strikeouts.

Buchanan had another nine hits off of Brandywine pitchers Cam Barrier and Brock Prenkert.

Sidenbender wants his team to get better swings against quality pitching.

“We have to have more ‘grit’ at the plate and battle more,” he said. “We took a lot of good pitches early in the count, which caused us to fall behind. The only way to get better is to get back at it and make adjustments. Which we will do.”

VanOverberghe helped his own cause by going 2-for-3 with a triple and two RBIs.

The Bucks also got two hits from Dedrick Adkerson and Austin Williams. Williams singled, tripled and drove in three runs.

The Bobcats were scheduled to be back in action Wednesday against Niles, but a late storm postponed the games.

The Bucks were also scheduled in action Thursday as they hosted St. Joseph (11-11) in a non-conference doubleheader, weather permitting.