By By ERIKA PICKLES / Niles Daily Star
NILES - The Niles varsity softball team took a very close 2-1 win in the first game of what was supposed to be a Big 16 West Division doubleheader Tuesday evening.
However, in the first inning of the second game, the St. Joseph pitcher was seriously injured when a line drive struck her in the head. The pitcher, who's name was not released, was sent to Lakeland-St. Joseph, where she was then airlifted to Bronson Methodist Hospital. As of this morning, she was doing better.
After Niles gave St. Joseph a run in the second inning, which allowed the Bears to take a 1-0 lead, St. Joe handed the run right back on a wild pitch. In the sixth inning, Lauryn Gibson scored the go ahead run.
Jenna Ignowski grabbed her ninth win of the season for the Lady Vikes. She had seven strikeouts and allowed no walks and just two hits. Jordan Goslee suffered the loss for the Bears.
Top hitters were Lindsay Carey with two singles, while Cricket Fisher, Nicole Ignowksi, Jenna Ignowski, Julie Kater and Nellie Coquillard all had singles for Niles.
The Vikings, now 12-4 overall, will travel to Coloma today for a pair of non-conference games set to begin at 4 p.m.