DOWAGIAC — The Dowagiac softball team returned to action Thursday, dropping a pair of Wolverine Conference games to visiting South Haven.

The Rams swept the struggling Chieftains 15-0 and 20-4. Dowagiac is now 1-5 on the season.

In the opener, the Chieftains fell behind early and couldn’t come back.

South Haven took the lead on a home run in the first inning.

Dowagiac struggled to contain the high-powered offense of the Rams.

“South Haven proved to be the team that we thought they were,” said Dowagiac coach Mike Behnke. “But as good as they are, we made them look even better with our poor defensive effort. The scores don’t show it but Amiyah and Greta pitched great and we just gave South Haven too many extra outs each inning and then they capitalized. We have to get back at practice not only physically but mentally as well.”

South Haven fired up the offense in the first inning, when Hannah Mines homered on a 1-0 count, scoring two runs.

Hayley Krieger earned the victory on the pitcher’s mound for the Rams. She allowed one hit and zero runs over four innings, striking out four and walking zero.

Amiyah Smith took the loss for the Chieftains. She surrendered 15 runs on 11 hits over four innings, striking out three.

South Haven hit five home runs on the day. Krieger had a four bagger in the fourth inning. Mines went deep in the first and fourth innings. Grace Ellis had a homer in the fourth inning. Mallory Darrow had a long ball in the fourth inning.

Smith went 1-for-2 at the plate to lead Dowagiac in hitting.

The Rams tallied 11 hits in the game. Darrow, Holli Dannenberg, Ellis, and Mines all had multiple hits for South Haven.

The Rams were sure-handed in the field and didn’t commit a single error.

In the nightcap, the Chieftains watched the game slip away early, and couldn’t recover in the loss.

South Haven took the lead on a ground out in the first inning.

Dowagiac struggled to put runs on the board and had a tough time defensively containing the Rams, giving up 20 runs.

South Haven got things started in the first inning, scoring on a wild pitch.

The Chieftains put up three runs in the fifth inning. Dowagiac’s rally was led by singles by Shelby Jackson and Taylore Froehlich.

South Haven scored nine runs in the third inning.

Mallory Darrow, Torie Loikits, Grace Ellis, Frances Lyons, Holli Dannenberg, and Haley Mines each drove in runs during the inning.

Hayley Krieger took the win for the Rams. She surrendered zero runs on one hit over three innings, striking out five and walking zero. Loikits threw two innings in relief out of the bullpen.

Whitaker took the loss for Dowagiac. She lasted three and a third innings, allowing five hits and 15 runs while striking out two.

Dowagiac tallied seven hits. Anna Dobberstein and Amiya Smith all had multiple hits for the Chieftains. Smith and Dobberstein all had two hits to lead Dowagiac.

Dowagiac soccer

The Chieftain softball team got back to work with a 2-1 win over visiting Brandywine in a non-conference match Wednesday.

Allie Conner and Martha Schaller scored the goals for the Chieftains, who return to Wolverine Conference action Tuesday, at South Haven.

Dowagiac finished with 15 shots on goal.

“I thought the lady Chieftains moved the ball well tonight. We were able to get out and run and had a successful team effort,” said Dowagiac coach Chad Davis.  I was very satisfied with the girls tonight everyone  played hard.”