Host Niles used 22 hits to sweep a SMAC non-divisional baseball doubleheader from Kalamazoo Central Thursday.

The Vikings (15-7) defeated the Maroon Giants 3-2 and 12-8. Niles had to rally from an 8-6 deficit in the nightcap to complete the sweek.

In the opener, Wyatt Thornton delivered an RBI double in the bottom of the seventh to drive in the winning run for Niles.

Jacob Hamm picked up the win in relief of starter Cody Thornton.

The Vikings finished with 10 hits, including two each from Drew Huffman and Chris Frantz.

Niles pounded out 12 hits in the second game, but needed a four-run sixth inning to earn the victory.

Hamm was the winning pitcher in relief again for the Vikings in the nightcap as he came on in the fifth inning to shut down Kalamazoo Central.

Bryce Lake had three of Niles’ 12 hits, including a double, Alex Hardy and Jordan Ham both had two hits, while Frantz tripled.

 

NILES 3-12, KALAMAZOO CENTRAL 2-8

At Niles

First Game

Central           100     001     0 – 2 3 1

Niles                000     020     1 – 3 10 2

Isaiah Livers (L); Cody Thornton, Jacob Hamm (W, 7)

2B: J. Remilius (K), Wyatt Thornton (N), Jordon Ham (N)

 

Second Game

Central           010     070     0 – 8 9 2

Niles                050     124     X – 12 12 4

Karsen Withers (L), Vic Ankley (6); Wyatt Thornton, Jacob Hamm (W, 5)

2B: Eugene Roberts (K), Javier Caswell-Vargas (K), Bryce Lake (N)

3B: Chris Frantz (N)

Varsity record: Niles 15-7