By By DAN WEISS / Niles Daily Star
NILES -- Jim Arnold took full responsibility.
With his team leading 5-2 heading into the seventh inning, the Niles softball head coach decided he just wanted to get the game over as soon as possible.
With an already wet field in danger of getting wetter with more rain on the way and temperatures dropping, Arnold's main goal was to finish the game. South Bend Washington, however, had another idea and rallied for six runs in the top of the seventh which Niles was unable to answer and the Panthers earned an 8-5 victory.
Washington had only one hit off Eckstein in the seventh inning, but continually put the ball in play where Niles committed three errors.
Crystal Crouch relieved Eckstein and gave up two hits and four runs before finally getting the Vikings out of the inning.
Niles managed to get just one runner on base in the bottom of the seventh.
Niles built its lead with two runs in each of the third and fourth innings and one more in the fifth.
Kate Whittaker paced Niles at the plate wtih a triple and a single. Tasha Lary added two singles while Nikki Lintz, Ashton Parks and Sarah Dreher each hit a single.
Eckstein took the loss and dropped to 0-2 on the year. The Vikings are 1-2 and will play in a tournament at Coloma Saturday.
Robyn Klingerman relieved Ashley Wood in the fifth inning and picked up the win for Washington which is 2-5. Sarah Goerke led the Panthers with a triple.
South Bend Washington….8
Niles……………………………..5
Washington 000 200 6--8 6 2
Niles 002 210 0--5 6 4
Ashley Wood, Robyn Klingerman (5, W) and Jaci Babbitt; Kari Eckstein (L), Crystal Crouch (7) and Nikki Lintz.
3B: Sarah Goerke (W), Kate Whittaker (N)
Team records: Washington 2-5, Niles 1-2