From staff reports

For the first time this season the Niles baseball team tasted defeat.

And it had no one to blame but itself.

The Vikings (5-2) dropped a Big 16 Conference non-divisional doubleheader to visiting Battle Creek Lakeview Tuesday night 8-4 and 8-7.

Niles had a lead in both games.

The Vikings led 2-0 in the first game before Lakeview scored twice in the fourth to tie the score and then took the lead with a run in the fifth.

Battle Creek then tacked on five runs in the fifth to open up an 8-2 lead.

The Vikings rallied for a pair in the bottom of the seventh, but could not overcome the deficit.

David Garner worked the first five innings and took the loss for Niles. Alex Grishaber and Taylor Campbell also spent time on the hill.

Niles finished with nine hits, including two each from Aaron Davis and Matthew McLaughlin.

Chris McCoy and Evan Einhardt doubled and tripled respectively for Lakeview.
In the nightcap, which was called after six innings due to darkness, Niles led 7-3 before Battle Creek came storming back.

Lakeview scored a run in the fourth and then four in the pivotal fifth inning to overtake the Vikings, who rallied from a 3-0 deficit in the opening inning.

Riley Robson took the loss as the starter for Niles. Chris Mangus made a relief appearance for the Vikings.

Niles had 10 hits in the game, including a 3-for-4 performance from Ricky Briand that included a home run.

Kevin Gross, McLaughlin and Campbell all had doubles for the Vikings, while Garner had a pair of hits.

Ryan Kerr doubled and Einhardt homered as part of their two hits for Lakeview.

First game
Lakeview 000 215 0 – 8 5 0
Niles 101 000 2 – 4 9 4
WP – Luke Biving and Kris Kreter
LP – David Garner, Alex Grishaber (6), Taylor Campbell (7) and Ricky Briand
2B: Chris McCoy (BCL)
3B: Evan Einhardt (BCL)

Second game
Lakeview 300 140 – 8 9 0
Niles 331 000 – 7 10 4
WP – Yuki Tsukamoto (4), Joe Adamson, Evan Einhardt (6) and Brian Hecht
LP – Riley Robson, Chris Mangus and Ricky Briand
2B: Ryan Kerr (BCL), Kevin Gross (N), Matthew McLaughlin (N), Taylor Campbell (N)
HR: Einhardt (BCL), Briand (N)