By By DON EDEN / Niles Daily Star
NILES – Brandywine (12-6, 6-2) started fast in both games of a doubleheader sweep over Lakeland Conference foe Berrien Springs (9-5,3-5) on Tuesday by rocking the Shamrocks by 8-1 and 10-8 scores.
The Bobcats scored five tallies in the opening inning and two in the second in the opener and senior Kendra Zache limited the visitors to four hits.
Shawna Bromley along with Zache provided the punch with home runs to left center with Bromley's blast coming with a teammate on base.
"We are starting to hit the ball pretty well and have been working on it in practice by hitting with power to leftfield," Bobcat coach Jim Myers said. "This is the best we have hit all year with the most homers which helps in scoring runs."
Zache pitched the first five innings with the only run being unearned as Kristina Ford finished with two scoreless mound stanzas. Junior Lyndsey Shembarger of Berrien Springs was the losing pitcher in both games.
Brooke Coshow provided the punch in the nightcap with a three-run two out homer to left center to give the Bobcats a 6-1 advantage after two innings before the Shamrocks decided to make the trip worthwhile.
With the help of Brandywine errors and some key hits the lead was narrowed to a single digit as Berrien Springs scored four runs in the top of the third inning.
"We were not into the first game for some reason and did not hit very well but was pleased in the second game as we were mentally ready and our hitting improved," Berrien Springs coach Holly Rago remarked. All of our pitchers are not feeling very well so we need some warm weather but we are almost there with just some little things to work on."
Brandywine would not give up the lead as it scored in each of the final three innings with Lauren McCombs hitting and hustling on a triple down the right field line being a key hit.
"Kendra (Zache) overall did a pretty good job pitching both games but we need to cut down on the walks but our defense needs to get better also," stated Myers. "We will take the victories since the conference race this year is wide open and we are still there."
Berrien Springs 000 100 0 – 1 4 2
Brandywine 520 100 x – 8 8 3
Kendra Zache (W, 9-6), Kristina Ford (6) and Jill Sater; Lyndsey Shembarger (L), Megan Fecho (5) and Sam Carbajal
2B: Delanna Schroeder (BR), Sater (BR)
HR: Shawna Bromley (BR), Zache (BR)
Berrien Springs 104 012 0 – 8 8 4
Brandywine 330 211 x – 10 7 4
Zache (W, 10-6) and Sater; L. Shembarger (L), Fecho (2), Kelsey Shembarger (5) and Sam Carbajal
3B Lauren McCombs (BR)
HR Brooke Coshow (BR)