By By ERIKA PICKLES / Niles Daily Star
NILES - Although the Lady Vikes softball team was swept by Culver Academy Saturday 3-1, 7-2, coach Jim Arnold feels his team played very well against the seventh ranked Culver.
Niles stayed close with Culver, now 23-3 overall, in the first game only losing by two runs, 3-1.
Kayla Gross knocked a home run over the left field fence in the first inning to give the Vikings their one and only run.
Julie Kater, now 5-14 at the mound, suffered the pitching loss against Jackie Lawrence.
Gross led the way offensively for the Vikes going 1-for-3 with a home run and Kate Whittaker also went 1-for-3.
The second game was a little more out of reach for Niles as it suffered a 7-2 loss.
Kylee Mudd, now 5-8, was the losing pitcher against Lawrence.
Whittaker was the top hitter for the Vikes in game two going 3-for-3 with a double.
Other top hitters were Stephanee Schrader going 1-for-2 with two RBIs and Nicole Ignowski and Lindsay Carey both going 1-for-3.
The Vikings, now 8-22 overall, will return to action Tuesday night when they host Benton Harbor. Game time is set for 4:30 p.m. Tuesday is also Senior Night for the Vikes.