By By DAN WEISS / Niles Daily Star
The Niles varsity softball team finally evened its record at 15-15 with a sweep of Southwest Michigan Athletic Conference foe Marshall Tuesday afternoon.
The Vikings eked out a 1-0 victory in the first game and then oustscored the Redskins 7-5 in the second game.
Junior pitcher Kari Eckstein recorded her second career no-hitter in the opening game. She struck out 11 batters and walked two to improve to 7-8 on the year.
Crystal Crouch improved to 8-8 with the pitching victory in the second game. Eckstein picked up the save as she came on in relief in the fifth inning.
The two teams combined for 21 hits in the second game.
Kate Whittaker led the Vikings at the plate with a triple and a single while Merrilee Wuthnow added a double and a single. Ashton Parks and Sarah Dreher each singled twice. Stephanee Schrader added a double while Tasha Lary, Jessica Johnson and Nikki Lintz each singled once.
The Vikings, winners of seven of their last eight games, return to action today at home for a doubleheader against South Bend Adams at 5:30 p.m.
Niles………1
Marshall….0
Niles 000 001 0--1 4 2
Marshall 000 000 0--0 0 2
Kari Eckstein (W, 7-8); Mackey (L).
Niles………7
Marshall….5
Niles 030 130 0--7 12 4
Marshall 103 001 0--5 9 1
Crystal Crouch (W, 8-8), Kari Eckstein (S, 5); Braner (L).
3B: Kate Whittaker (N), Mackey (M), Seger (M)
2B: Merrilee Wuthnow (N), Stephanee Schrader (N)
Team records: Niles 15-15, Marshall 6-18