By By DAN WEISS / Niles Daily Star
Stephanee Schrader hit a single with two outs in the seventh inning to score Niles' only run in the second game of Friday's Southwest Michigan Athletic Conference doubleheader at Mattawan.
That run proved to be the game-winner as the Vikings held Mattawan scoreless in the bottom of the inning and escaped the sweep.
The Wildcats won the first game 7-1 as they had 11 hits and no defensive errors. Niles managed just three hits in the first game. Kayla Gross tripled and Ashton Parks doubled for the Vikings in the opener.
Parks doubled again in the second game but it was her defensive play at the end of the game that sealed the victory. Parks, the shortstop, snagged a line drive and threw to Gross at third base for a double play that ended the game.
Kari Eckstein took the loss in the first game and Crystal Crouch earned the victory in the second game. She improved to 4-4 on the year.
The Vikings return to action Tuesday at home for a doubleheader with SMAC foe Coldwater.
The Niles freshmen softball team swept a doubleheader from Battle Creek Central with wins of 8-5 and 8-3.
In the first game Kayla Gross had three hits while Stephanee Schrader tripled. Lauryn Gibson, Julie Kater and Lanisha Davis each had two hits as well. Kater was the winning pitcher.
Gross again paced the Vikings in the second game with three hits including an in-the-park home run. Kater and Annick Martin each added two hits. Schrader, Monica Bender and Davis each had one hit. Kater again earned the pitching victory with seven strikeouts.
The Niles freshmen, now 2-8 on the year, will take on the Buchanan junior varsity team Wednesday.
Mattawan….7
Niles…………1
Niles 000 010 0--1 3 1
Mattawan 012 211 x--7 11 0
Barker-King (W); Kari Eckstein (L, 2-6).
3B: Kayla Gross (N)
2B: Ashton Parks (N)
Niles…………1
Mattawan….0
Niles 000 000 1--1 4 1
Mattawan 000 000 0--0 4 0
Crystal Crouch (W, 4-4).
2B: Ashton Parks (N)
Team records: Niles 6-10, Mattawan 9-7