By SCOTT NOVAK
Niles Daily Star

NILES – The Niles softball team built up a bit of momentum at the end of the first game and carried it over to the nightcap to earn a split with visiting Sturgis Tuesday afternoon.

The Vikings dropped a 9-3 decision in the opening game, but scored three runs in the sixth to take a little confidence into the second game against the Trojans.

That carried over into a four-run first inning as Niles posted a 13-5 victory.

Sturgis used a four-run second inning to open up a 5-0 lead on the Vikings in the opening game and never looked back.

The lead reached 7-0 before Niles scored three times in the bottom of the sixth on a bases-clearing double by Hannah Porterfield.

Brittney Buti took the loss for the Vikings.

In the nightcap, Niles scored four times in the first, once in the second to take a 5-0 lead on the Trojans.

Sturgis scored five times in the in the top of  the third inning to knot the score at 5-5 only to have Niles come back with a pair of runs in the bottom of  the third to regain the lead.

The Vikings finished off the Trojans with four runs in the fifth and two in the sixth.

Heather Daniels earned the victory as she scattered five hits.

She also had a pair of hits, as did Charissa Spear, Sophie Nielsen and Brooke Wilson.

The Vikings will travel to Edwardsburg on Thursday for a non-conference doubleheader.

First game
Sturgis 140 020 2 – 9 10 0
Niles 000 003 0 – 3 5 3
WP – Megan Hill
LP – Brittney Buti
2B: Hannah Porterfield (N), Caposey (S)

Second game
Sturgis 005 000 0 – 5 6 3
Niles 412 042 x – 13 12 3
WP – Heather Daniels
LP – Megan Hill
2B: Hill (S)