Visiting Portage Central spoiled the debut of Niles softball coach Ryan Frontzak Thursday afternoon.

The No. 9-ranked (Division 1) Mustangs defeated the Vikings 9-7 and 14-0.

In the opening game, Molly VanDeKeere suffered the loss.

Niles got a home run from Morgan Richer and a double from Tala Gentry. Brooke Wilson swiped a pair of bases for the Vikings.

In the nightcap, Gentry took the loss.

“We really hit the ball well the first game and just missed a couple of chances late in the game,” Frontczak said. “We put a lot of pressure on them. We just made too many mistakes to win.

“You can’t beat the No. 9-ranked team in the state making five errors. We knew coming into the game we had to play mistake free ball to have a chance. Our girls fought hard in the first game. We just have to work on the little things to finish in key situations.”

Frontczak said the Mustangs opened up the second game hitting the ball and never let up.

“We just couldn’t stop them,” he said. “They had the timing of our pitching and just kept hitting. We need to find a way to stop the big innings. We know we just have to get better. We have a lot of work to do.”

First game

Portage Central 106 000 2 – 9 11 1

Niles 111 300 0 – 6 10 3

Morgan VanderBor (W), Gina Verduzco (6); Molly VanDerKeer (L)

2B: Caitlyn Martin (PC), Tala Gentry (N)

HR: Morgan Richer (N)

Second game

Portage Central 148 01 – 14 18 0

Niles 000 00 – 0 3 2

Gina Verduzco (W), Brook Wyman (3); Tala Gentry (L), Molly VanDerKeer (3)

2B: Verduzco (PC) 2, Caitlyn Martin (PC) 2, Whitney Pflibson (PC)

HR: Verduzco (PC), Katy Wyman (PC)

Varsity records

Portage Central 2-0, 2-0 West; Niles 0-2, 0-2 West