By By ERIKA PICKLES / Niles Daily Star
NILES - Two very intense softball games resulted in a split Thursday evening for the Niles varsity softball team.
The Lady Vikes traveled to Portage Northern for a non-divsional doubleheader, losing the first game 6-4, but picking up a 4-2 win in the second game against the No. 5 ranked Huskies.
In game one, Niles had a 2-1 lead entering the third. Portage Northern scored three runs to take control, but the Vikes scored two runs in the fourth to tie the game at four.
The Huskies came back strong in the bottom of the fourth and scored two runs to regain a 6-4 lead.
The Vikes had a chance to tie the game and even take the lead in the fifth. With bases loaded and only one out, Portage Northern made a huge double play that spoiled any chances of Niles scoring more runs. The next two innings stayed scoreless, posting the final score.
Danielle Beyer was the winning pitcher for Portage Northern, while Jenna Ignowski suffered the loss. Ignowski threw six strikeouts and allowed just one walk.
Top hitters in the first game were Lindsay Carey with two hits and one RBI, Ignowski and Karly Kennedy both had a double and a single, Stephanee Schrader had a double and a RBI, Cricket Fisher had a triple and a RBI and Erica Gordon added one RBI.
In the second game, Portage Northern held on to a very small lead for most of the contest. The Huskies scored one run in the first and the Vikes tied it with a run in the fourth. Portage Northern scored another run in the bottom of the fourth, posting a 2-1 lead for the next two innings.
That's when the bats came alive for Niles.
In the top of the seventh, doubles by Nellie Coquillard, Ignowski, Schrader and a triple by Kayla Gross pushed three runs across the plate, giving the Lady Vikes a 4-2 lead.
Strong defense in the bottom of the seventh allowed Niles to hang on to the lead and claim the victory.
Ignowski, now 2-1, threw three strike outs and allowed three walks in the second game.
Top hitters in game two were Schrader with a double, single and one RBI. Gross had a triple, two singles and one RBI. Coquillard had a double and a single and Kennedy had one RBI.
Niles, now 2-1, will host Portage Central on Tuesday for its first pair of home games this season. The first game is set to begin at 4:30 p.m.