It’s been the same story for the Niles baseball team this season.

The Vikings were unable to complete the sweep again as it split a pair of non-league games with visiting Sturgis Thursday.

Niles won the opening game 6-1, but came up short in the nightcap, 8-7.

In the opener, Tate Brawley tossed a four hitting and the Vikings used a four-run fifth inning to earn the victory.

Brawley, who took a shutout into the top of the seventh before a double and a bloop single produced the Trojans’ lone run, struck out seven, walked one and hit three.

Leading just 2-0, the Vikings exploded for four runs in the fifth inning to break the game open.

After hitting into a fielder’s choice, Matthew McLaughlin moved to second when Taylor Weldy was hit by a pitch. A single by Tyler Parish scored McLaughlin to make it 3-0 in favor of Niles.

A double by Chris Mangus extended the Vikings’ lead to 4-0 and when Mitchell Dehn followed with a double, Parish and Mangus scored to make it 6-0.

After shutting down the Trojans in the sixth, Brawley allowed one run on two hits in the seventh.

He opened the inning by hitting Jarred Finnerman, who moved to third on a double by Jalen Cox. William Fry blooped a ball into shallow center field to score Finnerman.

Brawley then struck out the next two hitters and got the third out on a fly ball to center field.

In the nightcap, A four-run second inning gave the Trojans a 4-3 lead on the Vikings. Sturgis’ lead reached 7-3 before Niles started its comeback.

Two runs in the fourth cut the Trojans’ advantage to 7-5, but a run in the fifth proved to be a game-winner for Sturgis.

Niles scored twice in the bottom of the fifth, but could not catch the Trojans. The game was halted after five innings due to darkness.

Jake Brentlinger took the loss with relief help from Dallas Munger.

The Vikings outhit Sturgis 7-4. Brawley was 2-for-3 with a pair of doubles. McLaughlin also doubled.

First game

Sturgis 000 000 1 – 1 4 1

Niles 001 140 x – 6 7 1

Tate Brawley (W, 2-1) and Tyler Parish; Chance Stewart (L) and Jarred Finnerman

2B: Chris Mangus (N), Mitchell Dehn (N), Jalen Cox (S)

Second game

Sturgis 041 21 – 8 7 4

Niles 120 22 – 7 6 2

Riley Wentzel (W) and Jarred Finnerman; Jake Brentlinger (L), Dallas Munger (4) and Tyler Parrish

2B: Chance Stewart (S), Matthew McLaughlin (N), Tate Brawley (N) 2

Varsity record

Niles 7-7