By By ERIKA PICKLES / Niles Daily Star
NILES - The Niles varsity softball team split a doubleheader with visiting Coldwater Tuesday afternoon.
The Vikes fell in the first game 9-5, but picked up a huge 11-1 win in the night cap.
Niles again had a bit of a struggle on defense in the first game with some missed ground balls and miscommunication, but it was the Lady Vikes' offense that looked much improved and Nicole Ignowski's two home runs set a tone for the team.
The Vikings didn't get their first run until the bottom of the fifth inning.
They made an effort to take the lead, but only scored two runs in the bottom of the sixth and seventh innings, which kept them down by four and allowed Coldwater to claim the 9-5 win.
Ignowski got her first of two home runs in the first game and went 2-for-3.
Julie Kater went 2-for-4 with a double, Cricket Fisher went 1-for-4 with a double, Kayla Gross and Karly Kennedy both went 1-for-3 and Kate Whittaker went 2-for-3 for Niles.
The Vikings offense came around even more in the second game, which allowed them to take the 11-1 win. The game was ended in the fifth due to mercy rule.
Coldwater was able to tie the game at one in the top of the second, but never got any closer as Niles scored seven runs in the bottom of the second, one in the third and two in the fifth.
Kylee Mudd was the winning picther and is now 2-3 on the season.
Niles got some strong hitting from Ignowski who went 2-for-4 with a home run.
Whittaker went 2-for-3 with a double, Fisher went 2-for-4 with a double, Stephanie Schrader went 3-for-4 with two doubles, Lindsay Carey went 2-for-2, Kennedy went 1-for-2 and Kater went 1-for-3.
Niles, now 5-10 overall, return to the field on Thursday at Vella Park against Coloma. Game time is set for 4:30 p.m.