Dakota McDonald brought home the winning run to give the Niles baseball team the lead in the sixth inning and the Vikings hung on to beat Coldwater 4-1 in the first game Tuesday.

The Cardinals scored a pair of runs in the top of the fifth to pick up a 7-6 win in the nightcap and earn a split in the Big 16 Conference non-divisional doubleheader.

In the opener, after Chris Mangus singled, McDonald reached on an error, scoring Mangus.

Taylor Weldy was solid at the plate for the Niles Vikings Varsity. Weldy went 2-for-4 and scored one run. He tripled in the fourth inning and singled in the fifth inning.

Coldwater’s lineup had no answer for Tate Rudlaff. Coldwater managed just two hits off of Rudlaff, who allowed no earned runs, walked four and struck out three during his five innings of work.

Jake Brentlinger earned a save for Niles (2-2).

Coldwater’s lone run of the ballgame came in the second inning on a fielder’s choice.

In the nightcap, Matt Miller did all he could to give the Vikings a boost, but it wasn’t enough to get past Coldwater.

It was a good day at the plate for the Miller as he went 1-for-2, drove in one and scored one run. He doubled in the fourth inning. Chris Mangus also had a double for the Vikings.

Ian Wright got the win for Coldwater despite allowing six runs over four innings. He struck out two, walked two and surrendered five hits.

Brad Miller took the loss in relief for Niles.

 

First game

Coldwater 010 000 0 – 1 4 2

Niles 000 103 x – 4 7 1

Tate Rudlaff (W), Jake Brentlinger (6); Kevin Miller (L), Skylar Reincke (6)

3B: Taylor Weldy (N)

 

Second game

Coldwater 050 02 – 7 9 1

Niles 500 10 – 6 5 3

Ian Wright (W), Grant Maurer (5); Tyler Clutter, Brad Miller (L, 5)

2B: Maurer (C), Skylar Reincke (C), Chris Mangus (N), Matt Miller (N)