By Staff
The Niles baseball and softball teams had a rough start to the Southwest Michigan Athletic Conference West Division season Wednesday afternoon.
Both teams hosted St. Joseph and suffered two losses in the doubleheaders.
The St. Joseph baseball team swept Niles with wins of 6-0 and 6-3 while the Lady Bears beat Niles 9-3 and 10-0.
Kyle Kidwell and Ryne Dowling took the pitchign losses for the Vikings. Josh Henry hit a double in the second game for Niles, which is now 5-4 overall and 0-2 in division play.
Kari Eckstein and Crystal Crouch took the pitching losses for the Lady Vikings which fall to 1-7 on the year and 0-2 in division play.
Both teams return to SMAC West Divison action today at Lakeshore.
Baseball
St. Joseph….6
Niles………….0
Ben Knuth (W) and Chris Regan; Kyle Kidwell (L) and Nick Saviano, Adrian Davis (7).
St. Joseph….6
Niles………….3
Tyler Whitaker (W) and Chris Regan; Ryne Dowling (L), Matt Richardson (6) and Kyle Kidwell.
2B: Josh Henry (N)
Team records: St. Joseph 4-2 (2-0 SMAC West), Niles 5-4 (0-2)
Softball
St. Joseph….9
Niles………….3
St. Joseph 202 032 0--9 7 0
Niles 010 200 0--3 4 7
Megan Gohlke (W, 5-0); Kari Eckstein (L, 0-4), Crystal Crouch (2).
3B: Gohlke (S)
2B: Gohlke (S)
St. Joseph….10
Niles…………..0
St. Joseph 011 80--10 10 0
Niles 000 00--0 3 3
Mandy Rodriguez (W, 6-0); Crystal Crouch (L, 1-3).
3B: Hunnell (S)
2B: Rodriguez (S)
Team records: St. Joseph 11-0, Niles 1-7