By By ERIKA PICKLES / Niles Daily Star
SOUTH BEND, Ind. - A strong performance both on the field and at the plate helped the Niles varsity softball team earn a season opening win against South Bend Washington Wednesday evening.
The Vikes traveled back to Michigan with a 19-4 win as the team combined for 20 hits in just one game played.
Niles scored two runs early in the first inning and added eight more in the third, posting a 10-0 lead. In the fourth, the Panthers added three runs to the scoreboard, however, another eight runs in the fifth gave Niles an 18-3 lead. Both teams scored one run each in the sixth inning to post the final score.
Freshman Jenna Ignowski (1-0) took the win in the circle, throwing seven strikeouts and allowing only one walk in five innings pitched. Julie Kater came in for the save.
At the plate, Lindsay Carey had three hits, Ignowski had a single and two doubles, Lauryn Gibson, Stephanee Schrader and Nellie Coquillard all had two hits and Cricket Fisher added a double.
The Lady Vikes will be back in action today when they travel to Portage Northern for a double header. The first game is set to begin at 4:30 p.m.