NILES — Playing your arch rival is never easy.

But when you have to play them short-handed, it can really be a challenging proposition.

So when visiting Buchanan was able to come away with a split against Brandywine in BCS Red Division softball Wednesday afternoon, second-year Bucks’ coach Rachel Carlson was pleased.

Buchanan (14-10) used a four-run fifth inning to edge the Bobcats 5-4.

Brandywine (11-13-1) held off a late rally by the Bucks to win the nightcap 8-7 on senior night.

“I was proud of our kids competing against Brandywine under some adverse conditions,” said Carlson, a former Bobcat. “We were missing some players and a few had to play in places they usually don’t play. They stepped up to the challenge without hesitation.”

Trailing Brandywine 2-1 heading into the fifth, Buchanan used five hits, including a double, to take a 4-2 lead, which it would never relinquish.

Sophie Lozmack got the Bucks’ rally started with a leadoff double. Megan Adkerson, Emma Lozmack, Brooke Atkinson and Tali Suloff all singled to help push Buchanan to the lead.

The Bucks would add an insurance run in the top half of the seventh, which would ultimately end up being the game-winning run as the Bobcats scored twice in the bottom half of the inning.

Buchanan had 18 hits in the first game off of Brandywine pitchers Delani Nelson and Kennedy Byrd.

Sophie Lozmack was 4-for-5 with two doubles. Atkinson was 4-for-4.

“We are swinging the bats better than we were earlier in the season and that is exactly what we need to have going to roll into the district,” Carlson said.

In the second game, the Bobcats scored two runs in the first three innings and then single runs in the fourth and fifth to account for their eight runs.

Buchanan slowly whittled away at the lead until it had cut the deficit to 8-7 heading to the top of the seventh.

Byrd came on in relief of Haley Scott in the sixth and shut down the Buchanan offense.

The Bucks had 11 more hits in the nightcap, including doubles by Sophie Lozmack and Suloff. Lozmack also homered.

Brandywine finished with 16 hits, including home runs by Byrd and Scott.

Nelson and Byrd were both 3-for-4. Alexis Rhodes and Madison Bailey both had two hits. Nicole Sachman doubled for the Bobcats.

Brandywine was supposed to play at Cassopolis on Tuesday, but the games were canceled as the Rangers need to make up Southwest 10 Conference games.

Buchanan is scheduled to travel to Edwardsburg on Tuesday for a 4 p.m. start.