By SCOTT NOVAK
Dowagiac Daily News

NILES – For the past four years, the Niles softball team has pretty much lived on the arm of Jenna Ignowski.

But with Ignowski moved on to Eastern Michigan, it was time to find some new faces to dominate in the circle.

Seniors Heather Daniels and Brittney Buti each got their chance on Tuesday in the season opener against visiting Battle Creek Lakeview and both pitched pretty well.

The problem was the Vikings didn’t generate much offense and committed six errors in losing the doubleheader 7-2 and 4-0.

In the opening game, Daniels pitched her first varsity game and didn’t do badly.

The senior allowed seven runs on just three hits, but didn’t get much help from her defense, which committed five errors. Daniels struck out eight and walked 11.

Offensively, Daniels was also solid as she doubled and singled three times to account for four of the Vikings’ five hits.

Buti tripled and scored in the sixth inning as Sophie Nielsen grounded out to second to drive in the run, which made it a 7-1 contest.

Lakeview scored a run in the first and then six times in the sixth to break open the close contest.

Ashley Schwartz drove in two runs as she was safe on an error, while winning pitcher Kristin VanOostern singled and drove in a pair of runs. Kayla Frye had a bloop single for an RBI in the sixth.

Niles tacked on a run in the seventh inning as Emily Mokwa drew a walk, advanced to second on a passed ball and came around to score when Daniels singled and the Lakeview centerfielder misplayed the ball.

In the nightcap, which lasted just five innings due to darkness, Buti tossed a two-hitter with six strike outs and 11 walks.

Niles finished with five hits, including doubles by Charissa Spear and Daniels. Spear also had a double.

Lakeview scored a run in the first and fifth innings and two in the third to account for its scoring.

Niles will compete in the Chieftain Invitational on Saturday.

First game
Lakeview 100 006 0 – 7 3 1
Niles 000 001 1 – 2 5 5
WP – Kristin VanOosten and Erin Riley
LP – Heather Daniels and Sophie Nielsen
2B: Daniels

Second game
Lakeview 102 01 – 4 2 0
Niles 000 00 – 0 5 1
WP – Chelcie Eaton and Erin Riley
LP – Brittney Buti and Sophie Nielsen
2B: Charissa Spear (N), Heather Daniels (N)
Varsity records: Lakeview 4-0, Niles 0-2

Coloma at Edwardsburg
The Eddies split a Lakeland Conference doubleheader with host Coloma on Tuesday.
Edwardsburg (4-2, 1-1 Lakeland) won the opening game 5-0 behind the one-hit pitching of Ashley Tackett.
The Comets (1-3, 1-3) came back and took the nightcap 8-4, scoring four runs in the fourth inning and then hanging on.
The Eddies scored four runs in the fifth inning to break open the close contest.
Edwardsburg finished with 10 hits, including two each from Allison Koontz and Aubrey Coquillard.
Amelia Breslin, Emily Cavinder and Victoria Hurst all doubled for the Eddies.
In the nightcap, Tackett took the loss for Edwardsburg. Wegner and Andrea LaPlace also pitched for Edwardsburg.
The Eddies finished the game with six hits, led by De Burton’s two home run and a single.
Taylor McGrath had a double for the Eddies, who also got a pair of hits from Nicole Brooks.

First game
Coloma 000 000 0 – 0 1 0
Edwardsburg 001 400 x – 5 10 2
WP – Ashley Tackett, Ashley Wegner (6) and Deb Burton
LP – Jenny Wallace and Carley Trainor
2B: Amelia Breslin (E), Emily Cavinder (E), Victoria Hurst (E)

Second game
Coloma 010 411 1 – 8 9 1
Edwardsburg 101 002 0 – 4 6 1
WP – Jenny Wallace and Carley Trainor
LP – Ashley Tackett, Ashley Wegner (5), Andrea LaPlace (7) and Deb Burton
2B: Trainor (C), Taylor McGrath (E)
HR: Amanda Swihart (C), Burton (E) 2
Varsity records: Coloma 1-3, 1-3 Lakeland; Edwardsburg 4-2, 1-1 Lakeland