The Dowagiac baseball team rallied from an 8-1 deficit in the first game against Cassopolis to score a 13-10 victory over the Rangers at Rotary Park Monday.

The Chieftains had a much easier time of it in the second game as they defeated Cassopolis 13-3 in five innings.

“About a week ago we made some changes at practice and focused on making routine plays in the field and it is paying off during games,” Dowagiac coach Dan Schuchardt said. “Avoiding big innings on defense helped pitchers tonight get into a rhythm in both games. Since being called up from JV, Erik Walker is hitting .579 at the plate in his first eight games on varsity giving us the spark and speed we need on the bases to score runs.

“Brenden Dudley, Matt Smith and Aubrey Huston are all driving the ball in the gaps capitalizing with runners in scoring position.”

A seven-run fifth inning turned around the fortunes for Dowagiac, which finished with 15 hits off of a pair of Ranger pitchers.

Brenden Dudley went 3-for-4 with a double and three RBIs, while Eric Walker was 2-for-2. Mason Hojara was 2-for-3 with a double and two RBIs. Dre Bucha Moore had a double and two RBIs for the Chieftains.

Also driving in two runs were Collin Hassle and Mack Charles.

Cassopolis’ Nick Baker was 2-for-5 with a triple and three RBIs. Daniel Dueber was 2-for-3 while Matt Locke had two RBIs. Dillion Richey doubled for the Rangers, who also got a triple from Austin Green.

In the nightcap, Dowagiac jumped on the Rangers for four runs in the first inning and cruised to the easy victory.

Daquan Brooks picked up the victory as he allowed three runs on seven hits with seven strikeouts.

The Chieftains had 10 hits in the nightcap, led by Eric Walker, who was 2-for-3 with a double and an RBI. Matt Smith was 2-for-2, both doubles, with three RBIs. Aubrey Huston was 2-for-2 with a double and an RBI.

Mason Hojara drove in four runs for Dowagiac.

Baker and Green both had two hits for the Rangers. Green and Xander Smith both doubled.

 

CASSOPOLIS 10-3, DOWAGIAC 13-13

First Game

Cassopolis      352     000     0 – 10 8 2

Dowagiac        101     470     x – 13 15 0

Randy Kirk, Matt Locke (L, 5); Matt Smith, Nick Foote (2), Caleb Murph (W, 3)

2B: Dillion Richey (C), Mason Hojara (D), Dre Bucha Moore (D), Brenden Dudley (D)

3B: Austin Green (C), Nick Baker (C)

 

Second Game

Cassopolis      100     11 – 3 7 4

Dowagiac        463     0x – 13 10 1

Daquan Brooks (W); Austin Voss (L), Willie Moore (3)

2B: Xander Smith (C), Austin Green (C), Eric Walker (D), Aubrey Huston (D), Matt Smith (D) 2

Varsity record: Dowagiac 4-16