By Staff
NILES - The Niles varsity softball team dropped to 14-8 on Saturday after a doubleheader sweep by visiting Culver Academy at Vella Park.
The Lady Vikings, who will square off against cross-town rival Brandywine today in the first Matt Kurtis Memorial, lost 4-1 and 4-0 to Culver Academy.
Culver improved to 25-1 with the non-conference sweep.
Culver's Alexia Clay went 3-for-4 in the first game with a home run.
Niles finished five hits, led by Nellie Coquillard and Stephanee Schrader, both of whom doubled.
Karly Kennedy had two singles for the Lady Vikings as well.
Jackie Lawrence improved to 24-1 in the circle for Culver Academy.
Jenna Ignowski suffered the loss for the Vikings.
In the second game, Theresa Greppi had three hits for the Eagles, while Lawrence, Krista Smith and Ema Clark all had two hits.
Cricket Fisher had both Niles hit.
Culver Academy finished with nine hits off of Ignowski, who dropped to 10-7 on the season.
Following their showdown against Brandwine today, the Lady Vikings will take on Big 16 Conference West Division foe Lakeshore on Tuesday.
The first game is slated to begin at 4:30 p.m.
First game
Culver Academy103 011 0 - 4 7 0
Niles 000 010 0 - 1 5 4
Jenna Ignowski (L, 10-6), Jackie Lawrence (W, 24-1)
2B: Nellie Coquillard (N), Stephanee Schrader (N)
HR: Clay (C)
Second Game
Culver Academy 002 002 0 - 4 9 0
Niles 000 000 0 - 0 2 3
Jenna Ignowski (L, 10-7), Jackie Lawrence (W, 25-1)
Records: Culver Academy 25-1, Niles 14-8