By By ERIKA PICKLES / Niles Daily Star
NILES - St. Joesph nearly shut out Niles' varsity softball team twice Tuesday afternoon as the Vikings hosted the Bears for a Big 16 West Division doubleheader.
St. Joe took the 9-1 win in the first game and got a shut out win in the night cap winning 9-0.
Niles, now 8-19 overall, scored its first and only run in the first game in the bottom of the first inning.
Kayla Gross had a triple and Kate Whittaker added one hit for Niles in game one.
Julie Kater, now 5-12 at the mound, suffered the loss.
In the second game Gross went 2-for-3 at bat, Kylee Mudd, (3-7) who suffered the picthing loss, also went 2-for-3 at the plate and Annalee Nelson went 1-for-3 for Niles.
The Vikings hope to pick up a win tonight as they host South Bend John Adams at Vella Park. Game time is set for 6 p.m.