Niles David Garner tags out a Mattawan runner at the plate Tuesday afternoon.

By SCOTT  NOVAK

Niles Daily Star
It was like night and day for the Niles baseball team Tuesday night in its Big 16 Conference West Division opener against Mattawan.

Senior David Garner tossed a two-hitter as the Vikings won the opening game 10-0 in six innings.

But in the nightcap, Niles gave up 11 runs on 11 hits, committed three errors and fell to the Wildcats 11-4.

“David Garner threw his best game of the year in game one,” Niles coach Mike Vota said. “Offensively we continue to hit the ball hard and that was good to see.

“Game two was another story. Riley Robson threw well, but we did not play well behind him defensively and struggled to string multiple hits together. Defensively someone on the infield needs to become a leader. That is one of the challenges our team faces right now,” he added.

In the opener, Niles got two hits each from Chris Mangus and Rashad Harris. Kevin Gross tripled.

In the second game, Aaron Davis had two hits, including a double, while Matthew McLaughlin also had two hits.

Mangus doubled for the Vikings.

First game
Mattawan 000 000 0 – 0 2 7
Niles 203 302 x – 10 10 0
David Garner (W) and Shawn Holland
Mike Kirkbride (L) and Shawn McCarty
3B: Kevin Gross (N)
Second game
Mattawan 108 020 0 – 11 11 2
Niles 201 001 0 – 4 7 3
Butler (W) and Shawn McCarty
Riley Robson (W), Chris Mangus (6) and John Carey
2B: Chris Dietz (M), Brad Peninger (M), Mark Mortensen (M), Aaron Davis (N), Mangus (N)
Varsity record: Niles 10-4, 1-1 West Division