The Dowagiac softball team improved to 4-0 with a non-league doubleheader sweep of host Decatur Tuesday.

The Chieftains played well in the first game, but came out flat in the nightcap, according to veteran coach Mike Behnke.

“We played a pretty good first game tonight and then a kind of lethargic second game,” said Dowagiac coach Mike Behnke. “It didn’t  help when Taylor (Hulett) got hurt, but Sody (Megan Soderbloom) stepped up and shut them down after that.

“Taylore Froehlich stepped up too with three hits and some good catches in center. We still aren’t executing bunts which we will need to do if we want to win the close games.”

Dowagiac scored two or more runs in four of the seven innings in the opening game and finished with 16 hits.

Hulett tossed a three-hitter with 15 strikeouts and two walks.

She was also 3-for-5 at the plate with a double and two RBIs.

Soderbloom was 3-for-4 with a pair of doubles and two RBIs, while Amiyah Smith was also 3-for-4 with an RBI. Kailey Fear was 2-for-3 with four RBIs.

Tiana Wares and Hannah Whitaker both finished with two hits.

In the nightcap, Soderbloom gave up just four hits with 13 strikeouts and just one walk.

Dowagiac’s three errors led to three unearned runs for the Raiders.

Soderbloom was 3-for-4 with two more doubles and three RBIs.

Smith went 4-for-5 with an RBI, while Froehlich was 3-for-3 with an RBI. Shelby Jackson added a pair of hits and two RBIs.

Dowagiac will open up Wolverine Conference play today when it heads to Sturgis for a doubleheader scheduled to begin at 4 p.m.

DOWAGIAC 10-9, DECATUR 1-5

At Decatur

First game

Dowagiac 212 203 0 – 10 16 3

Decatur 000 100 0 – 1 3 2

Taylor Hulett (W, 2-0); Irene Horvath (L).

2B: Hulett (D), Megan Soderbloom (D) 2, Mekenna Gaideski (D).

Second game

Dowagiac 310 401 0 – 9 14 3

Decatur 311 000 0 – 5 4 0

Megan Soderbloom (W, 2-0); Emily Makowski (L), Regan Rose (5).

2B: Soderbloom (D) 2.

Varsity record: Dowagiac 4-0, Decatur 2-2.