By Staff
The Niles softball team got back on the winning track Monday afternoon, sweeping a non-conference doubleheader with Berrien Springs.
The Vikings, now 3-9, won the first game 8-1 and then needed just five innings to earn a 12-1 victory in the second.
Junior pitcher Kari Eckstein struck out a school-record 16 batters in the first game as she earned her first win of the season.
Crystal Crouch improved to 2-4 with the win in the second game.
Nikki Lintz led Niles at the plate with a double and two singles in the opener as well as a double and three singles in the second game.
Ashton Parks and Stephanee Schrader each tripled and hit a single in the first game. Kate Whittaker and Sarah Dreher each hit a pair of singles in the second game.
Niles…………………8
Berrien Springs….1
B. Springs 000 001 0--1 3 3
Niles 301 040 x--8 9 0
Kari Eckstein (W, 1-5); Kaitlyn Lemon (L).
3B: Ashton Parks (N), Stephanee Schrader (N)
2B: Nikki Lintz (N)
Niles……………….12
Berrien Springs….1
B. Springs 100 00--1 8 2
Niles 130 8x--12 13 2
Crystal Crouch (W, 2-4); Lindsay Davis (L).
2B: Nikki Lintz (N)
Team records: Niles 3-9, Berrien Springs 4-14