DOWAGIAC — The Dowagiac softball team has been on a roller coaster ride this season.

After sweeping Cassopolis in its season opener and splitting with Marcellus, the Chieftains dropped 10 straight games before sweeping another non-conference foe in Berrien Springs on April 25.

Dowagiac has propelled that sweep of the Shamrocks into a six-game winning streak following Friday night’s sweep of Allegan in Wolverine Conference play.

Besides getting better pitching and playing better defense, a direct correlation to Dowagiac’s turnaround has been its power surge.

The Chieftains have had five players hit one or more home runs this season.

Dowagiac hit three against Allegan Friday night as they defeated the Tigers 17-1 and 15-0.

The Chieftains also had six doubles and a triple in the doubleheader.

Veteran coach Mike Behnke has seen his fair share of players who can hit home runs at Dowagiac, but he cannot remember a season so many players were in the exclusive home run club.

“We have really been breaking down hitting by watching a lot of film, Behnke said. “We have been showing the girls what they have been doing right and what they have been doing wrong on the iPad. We have been trying to take some better swings and we are definitely starting to do that.”

Behnke also credits the work done in the weight room.

“We have had some girls commit to the weight room, and it shows,” he said. “Greta Whitaker was in the weight room all winter, and she has hit three this year so far.”

Hitting, better defense and solid pitching from both freshman Sierra Carpenter and junior Jessie Hulett, who tossed a no-hitter in the nightcap against the Tigers Friday night, have also helped turn Dowagiac’s fortunes around.

“We are just playing better ball,” Behnke said. “We are pitching better, fielding better, and we are hitting the ball better as well.”

Carpenter leads the home run club with four, including a grand slam, while Gaideski also has a grand slam for her lone home run.

Of Whitaker’s three, two have come in Wolverine Conference games. Senior Amiyah Smith and Hulett both have a pair of home runs.

Senior Taylor Pye joined the home run club Friday night when she hit her first career round tripper in the first game.

“It was exciting,” Pye said. “I had tears in my eyes. I hope to hit more.”

Carpenter tossed a one-hitter against Allegan with four strikeouts and one walk.

Dowagiac finished with 14 hits against the Tigers, including two each by Hulett, Carpenter, Maddie Stockwell. Gaideski and Whitaker.

Hulett and Carpenter both drove in three runs, while Stockwell and Gaideski both drove in a pair.

In the nightcap, Hulett struck out five and walked just one.

The Chieftains (9-10, 4-6 Wolverine) blasted Allegan pitching for 12 hits in the second game, including seven for extra bases.

Smith, Anna Dobberstein, Carpenter and Whitaker all finished with two hits.

Carpenter drove in three runs, while Smith, Dobberstein, Pye and Whitaker all collected a pair of RBIs.

Dowagiac is back in action Tuesday as it travels to Three Rivers for a Wolverine Conference twin bill.