The Dowagiac softball team took advantage of walks in its sweep of visiting Cassopolis Thursday.

Ranger pitcher Erica Williams had trouble finding the plate in her debut, walking 23 batters in the Chieftains’ 17-1 and 18-0 wins. Both games lasted just three innings.

Dowagiac (4-0) had three hits in the first game, including a double by Taylor Hulett.

Sabrina Ruiz allowed two hits and struck out six in earning the win for the Chieftains.

Hulett, a freshman, tossed a perfect game with five strikeouts in her first career start.

Dowagiac had eight hits in the second game including Kourtney Mitchell’s first career home run. Hulett, Miranda Schmidt and Hannah Whitaker all doubled.

“Their pitcher struggled to find the plate tonight and it made it very hard for the girls to stay focused on their swings,” Dowagiac coach Mike Behnke said. “To the girls’ credit, when they did get a pitch to hit, they hit it hard. We had 11 hits on the night and five went for extra bases. We also got solid pitching from Sabrina Ruiz and from Taylor Hulett who threw a perfect game.”

 

First game

Cassopolis      010 – 1 2 0

Dowagiac        3(14)x – 17 3 0

Sabrina Ruiz (W) and Kourtney Mitchell; Erica Williams (L) and Selena Hatcher

2B: Taylor Hulett (D)

 

Second game

Cassopolis      000 – 0 0 1

Dowagiac        3(15)x – 18 8 0

Taylor Hulett (W) and Kourtney Mitchell; Erica Williams (L) and Selena Hatcher

2B: Hulett (D), Miranda Schmidt (D), Hannah Whitaker (D)

HR: Mitchell (D)

 

Varsity records

Cassopolis 0-2, Dowagiac 4-0