Sturgis had lost four straight at home, but on Thursday they dropped their record down to 1-5 to make it five. They came up short against the Dowagiac Chieftains, falling 20-5. Unfortunately, that's the second time they've come up short against the Chieftains this season, as they also lost their prior matchup 20-2 on Thursday.
Riley Northrop was cooking despite her team's loss, going 1-for-3 with one stolen base, two RBI, and one run. She also hit a double, marking her first of the season.
As for Dowagiac, the win keeps they at an undefeated 11-0. Those victories came thanks in part to their pitching effort, having only surrendered 2.5 runs on average this season.
On Dowagiac's side, Addie Wilson was a major factor while hitting and pitching. On the mound, she struck out eight batters over five innings while giving up five earned runs off four hits. Wilson was also big at the plate, going 2-for-5 with two runs and one RBI.
In other batting news, Marlie Carpenter was incredible, going 3-for-4 with five runs, two stolen bases, and five RBI. With that strong performance, she is now averaging an impressive 2.1 runs per game. Another player making a difference was Bree Behnke, who got on base in four of her five plate appearances with four RBI, two runs, and one double.
Looking ahead, Sturgis will hit the road for the first time this season to challenge Niles at 3:00 p.m. on Friday. The Vikings' pitching crew has only allowed 3.8 runs per game this season, so the Trojans' hitters will have their work cut out for them. As for Dowagiac, they will welcome Three Rivers at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday.
