Dowagiac opened its softball season slowly on offense, but by the end of its non-league doubleheader with visiting Cassopolis, the Chieftains were hitting their stride.

No pun intended.

Dowagiac swept the Rangers 10-0 and 15-0. The first game lasted just five innings and the second three innings.

Despite the slow start offensively, the Chieftains still ended the day with 25 runs on 27 hits.

Dowagiac also got a pair of solid pitching performances as Taylor Hulett tossed a non-hitter in the first game with 12 strikeouts and a single walk, while in the nightcap, Megan Soderbloom tossed a one-hitter with five strikeouts and no walks.

Tiana Wares pitched the final inning of the second game, allowing no hits with three strikeouts and no walks.

“We didn’t hit very well in the first game and they made a few errors,” said Dowagiac coach Mike Behnke said. “I challenged the girls in the second to take some better swings and they responded. We hit the ball hard up and down the line up with 10 girls getting hits and seven getting multiple hits.

“Taylor and Megan pitched great again only allowing one hit between them. We will get to work at practice this week and take spring break off and come back to a busy first week.”

In the first game, Hulett was 3-for-3 with a pair of doubles and two RBIs.

Amiyah Smith was 3-for-4 with an RBI.

In the nightcap, Mekenna Gaideski, Soderbloom and Kailey Fear were all 2-for-2. Gaideski doubled and drove in two runs, Soderbloom doubled and drove in two runs, while Fear tripled and drove in a run.

Collecting two hits were Hannah Whitaker (double, three RBIs), Smith, Hulett (RBI) and Taylor Pye (RBI).

Keefe had the lone hit for the Rangers in the nightcap.

 

DOWAGIAC 10-15, CASSOPOLIS 0-0

At Dowagiac

First game

Cassopolis      000     00 – 0 0 2

Dowagiac        153     1x – 10 10 1

Nikki Keefe (L, 0-1); Taylor Hulett (W, 1-0).

2B: Hulett (D) 2.

 

Second game

Cassopolis      000 – 0 1 2

Dowagiac        582 – 15 17 1

Olivia Purlee (L, 0-2); Megan Soderbloom (W, 1-0), Tiana Wares (3).

2B: Hannah Whitaker (D), Soderbloom (D), Mekenna Gaideski (D) 2.

3B: Kailey Fear (D).

Varsity records: Cassopolis 0-2, Dowagiac 2-0.