By By STEVE MORRISON / Niles Daily Star
NILES – Indiana invaders have produced some frustration for the outstanding Niles varsity softball team's quest this week.
After losing their first game of the season Monday against Penn, the Lady Vikings beat arch-nemesis Lakeshore twice on Tuesday and added another win to make their record 25-1 going into Saturday's doubleheader against the Culver Academy Eagles.
In the first game, Niles triumphed 4-1 over Culver. Jenna Ignowski recorded 18 strikeouts of Eagles batters, as she racked up her 25th win of the campaign. Ignowski fanned the side in the fourth, fifth, and seventh innings, allowing one pop-up and a hit batsman in the final four.
Leading off the third inning with a perfectly placed bunt single, Emma Clark, Culver's second baseman, scored the first run of the game when catcher Taylor McSheffrey singled her in, following a two-out error by Niles shortstop Cricket Fisher.
After walking to begin the bottom of the frame, Viking center fielder, Stephanie Stoops tied it up, when she advanced to third on a one out single by Nelli Coquillard. Both Vikings scored when Fisher's sacrifice bunt was overthrown to first by Culver pitcher, Holly Johnson. Niles took the lead 2-1.
In the top of the fourth inning, Ignowski struck out the side, and Niles scored some insurance. Second baseman Karly Kennedy was issued a free pass with two out. After stealing second, Kennedy moved to third on a passed ball. Stoops came up with a huge two out single to knock in Stoops, and Niles had a little breathing room at 3-1.
Nelli Coquillard belted a line drive homer to right center, with one out in the Viking fifth inning, and with Ignowski's mastery on the mound, Culver never had a chance. Niles won the opener 4-1.
The second game was a case of the Eagles flying away. Holly Johnson put it all together on the hill for Culver. The lanky southpaw, who has been awarded an athletic scholarship to Rutgers for next year, yielded only four hits to the Lady Vikings, shutting them out 2-0.
Increasing her career strikeout total above 600, with nine whiffs for the game, Johnson improved her record to 14-4 for the season. She changed speeds and used an effective sinker to overcome her first game demise.
Jenna Ignowski was nearly as effective for the hosts. The Niles right-handed submariner bested Johnson with 11 strikeouts, but faulty defensive play in the sixth and seventh innings led to two unearned runs for the Eagles' two run margin of victory.
Niles just couldn't get the bats going, managing just five safeties against Johnson. Jenna Ignowski doubled to open the second Niles at bat, but was stranded.
In the fifth, Niles' third baseman Shelly Aurand singled, up the middle, to start the bottom of the inning. One out and a passed ball later, Stephanie Stoops single brought Aurand to third. Stoops stole second, and Niles was knocking on the door. Jonson fanned Fran Semrinec and got Coquillard on a short to first ground-out to end Niles' threat.
With one out in the sixth, DH Maggie Ernsberger reached, after getting hit by a pitch; Ignowski singled, sending a pinch runner to second. A pop out and strike out to the next two batters and Johnson had escaped again. Niles went 1-2-3 in the seventh after Culver had tallied its second unearned run of the contest.
After the second game, Gary Collins, Viking coach, had a lengthy meeting in the outfield.
He stressed fundamentals of hitting to his squad, who had stranded runners in wasted opportunities through the afternoon. Niles had managed just seven hits in the two games, and Collins was stressing to his proteges to use a more level swing, instead of an uppercut.
Niles is 25-2 on the championship trail, while Culver improves to 15-6.
First Game
Culver 001 000 0 – 1 3 1
Niles 002 110 x – 4 3 1
WP – Jenna Ignowski (N, 25-1) and Maggie Ernsberger
LP – Holly Johnson (C) and Taylor McSheffery
HR: Nellie Coquillard (N)
Second Game
Culver 000 001 1 – 2 7 1
Niles 000 000 0 – 0 5 2
WP – Jenna Ignowski (N, 25-2) and Nellie Coquillard
Holly Johnson (W) and Taylor McSheffery
2B: McSheffery (C) 2, Ignowski (N)
Records
Niles 26-2, Culver 15-6