By By ERIKA PICKLES / Niles Daily Star
EDWARDSBURG - Even a few rain showers and a couple of rumbles of thunder couldn't dampen the day for the Niles softball team.
The Vikes traveled to Edwardsburg for a pair of non-conference games, taking a 3-0 win in the first game and a 1-0 win in the second.
In game one, Niles scored all three of its runs in the top of the fourth inning.
Kayla Gross and Nicole Ignowski made it to base on a walk and a hit and were sent home when Karly Kennedy nailed a ball to left center for a single.
Kennedy was eventually sent in when Cricket Fisher pounded a double past the leftfielder
The Lady Vikes got all the runs they needed and held the Eddies scoreless for the rest of the contest.
Jenna Ignowski picked up the shut-out win in the circle for Niles, throwing four strikeouts and no walks to catcher Lindsay Carey. Shelia Stoops suffered the loss for Edwardsburg to catcher Kristen Toney.
Getting hits for Niles were Stephanee Schrader and Nicole Ignowski, who each had one single. Kennedy had one single and two RBIs and Cricket Fisher had a double and one RBI.
For the Eddies, Nikki Focht had two hits.
In the nightcap, it took six innings for someone to come across the plate and fortunately for Niles, Fisher stepped up and had another clutch RBI for the Lady Vikes, which proved to be the game winner.
Kater threw two walks with Carey behind the plate and now holds a 2-0 record. She also had a good performance at bat, getting a double and a single.
Other top hitters were Nicole Ignowski with three singles, Fisher had two singles and Nellie Coquillard and Schrader each had one single.
Lorin Thompson suffered the loss in the circle for the Eddies. She had four strikeouts.
The Vikes will enjoy a weekend off, but return to Big 16 West Division action on Tuesday in Benton Harbor. The first game is scheduled for 4 p.m.