By By DAN WEISS / Niles Daily Star
A pair of 4-1 wins at Coldwater Tuesday night improved the Niles varsity softball team's record to 11-4.
The Vikings took the lead for good with three runs in the second inning of the first game. It wasn't until the sixth inning of the second game that Niles scored three runs to seal the victory.
Kari Eckstein (6-2) and Julie Kater (5-2) earned the pitching victories for the Vikings, which host Dowagiac Thursday afternoon in Big 16 Conference West Division play. Eckstein struck out six batters and gave up four hits in the opener. Kater allowed four hits in five innings of work in the second game before Eckstein came on in relief.
Kayla Gross led the hitting attack in the opener with two hits. Tasha Lary, Stephanee Schrader, Kater and Eckstein each added a hit.
Cara Frucci led the Niles offense in the second game with a double and two singles. Gross added a double and a single while Ashton Parks hit two singles. Kate Whittaker added a single.
The Vikings committed just one error on the night.