MATTAWAN — The Niles softball team dropped to 4-11 on the year after begin swept by host Mattawan 10-2 and 13-6 in SMAC non-division softball Thursday.

Niles was held to five hits in the opener.

In the nightcap, the Vikings had nine hits including a pair of doubles from Holly Walker. Walker was 4-of-6 on the day.

Tegan Bays also doubled for Niles.

“Another tough night, we have got to learn to finish innings and finish games,” Niles coach Rick McKeel said. “It was a 2-1 game through four innings in the first game and the floodgates opened. In game two we got down 8-2 after three innings and got it back to 8-6 after top of five, but again we just could not finish down the stretch.

“I told the girls, we are close but the results are not going our way and they are having a tough time believing we’re making progress even though I can see it. I also told them that throughout this rough stretch they have remained positive and continued to work hard at practice, which is a positive.”

 

NILES 2-6, MATTAWAN 10-13

At Mattawan

First Game

Niles                100     000     1 – 2 5 4

Mattawan       110     035     x – 10 11 1

Addison Davies (L), Michelle Crouch (6); Koperkak (W)

2B: Holly Walker (N), Genny Soltese (M)

HR: Kylee Kegeler (M), Alexis Taube (M), Koperkak (M)

 

Second Game

Niles                100     140     0 – 6 9 4

Mattawan       161     140     x –  13 16 4

Michelle Crouch (L), Addison Davies (4); Larissa Gloves (W)

2B: Holly Walker 2 (N), Tegan Bays (N)

HR: Alexis Taube 2 (M), Joanna Bartz (M)

Varsity record: Niles 4-11