By Staff
The Niles baseball team had to overcome a 7-0 deficit in the fifth inning to beat Benton Harbor in the first game of Tuesday's Southwest Michigan Athletic Conference West Division doubleheader at Thomas Stadium.
The Vikings scored five runs in the bottom of the fifth, one in the sixth and two in the seventh while keeping the Tigers at bay to earn the victory.
Niles then rolled to a 12-5 victory in the second game, extending its winning streak to four games and improving its record to 9-6 overall and 2-4 in the West Division.
Ryne Dowling started on the mound for Niles in the opener but it was Kyle Kidwell who earned the pitching victory as he finished the game.
Josh Henry had three singles in the first game for Niles and Casey Hood added a pair of singles and one RBI. Brooks Bonner brought in two runs.
Bonner earned the pitching victory for Niles in the second game as he went the distance.
Cory Coquillard led the Vikings at the plate with three doubles. Lyle Watson also hit a double while Rick Storm tripled. Ryne Dowling added a single and a double.
Niles travels to Mattawan Thursday afternoon.
Niles……………….8
Benton Harbor….7
B. Harbor 103 300 0--7 7 3
Niles 000 051 2--8 10 4
Ryne Dowling, Kyle Kidwell (W, 5) and Kidwell, Rick Storm (5); Payno (L) and Bell.
2B: Franklin (B)
Niles………………12
Benton Harbor….5
B. Harbor 011 102 0--5 5 2
Niles 430 001 4--12 14 2
Brooks Bonner (W) and Kyle Kidwell, Rick Storm (6); Lee (L) and Bell, Randle (5), Franklin (7).
3B: Storm (N)
2B: Coquillard (N) 3, Ryne Dowling (N), Lyle Watson (N), Evans (B)
Team records: Niles 9-6 (2-4 SMAC West)