Visiting Lakeshore and Niles split a SMAC West Division baseball doubleheader Monday.

The game was originally scheduled for Tuesday, but was moved up a day to avoid potential weather issues.

The Vikings erased a 2-0 deficit in the first inning to take the opening game 5-2, but fell to the Lancers 2-1 in the eight-inning nightcap.

“Although we did not get the sweep on senior night, I was happy with our level of engagement through both games,” said Niles coach Mike Vota. “Our guys competed with a very good Lakeshore team and demonstrated the resilience necessary for success.”

After Lakeshore scored a pair of runs in the top half of the first, Niles scored a single run in the bottom half of the inning in the opening game and then scored three times in the second inning to take control of the contest.

Cody Glick reached on a error to lead off the inning before Dawson Clemens singled and Jacob Hamm was hit by a pitch to lead the bases with no outs.

Jake Lalone singled home courtesy runner Kendall Whitelow to tie the game at 2-2 and Bryce Lake lifted a fly ball to left to score Clemens with the go-ahead run.

Hamm scored the final run on the inning on a ground out by Drew Huffman to make it 4-2.

The Vikings (13-14) tacked on a run in the fourth to cap the scoring.

Jakob Huffman went the distance, allowing two runs on five hits with a pair of strikeouts.

Lucas Meyer worked all seven innings and took the loss for the Lancers.

Clemens had two of Niles’ six hits in the contest. Glick had Niles’ lone base hit as he doubled.

Drew Huffman drove in a pair of runs for the Vikings.

In the nightcap, Lakeshore scored the winning run in the top of the eighth as with two outs, Connor Brawley doubled and then scored on a single by Max Gaishin.

Niles managed only a leadoff single in the bottom half of the eighth.

Both teams scored single runs in the sixth inning.

Brawley picked up the save in relief of starter Tyler Mojsiejenko.

Lake suffered the loss in relief of Niles starter Drew Huffman.

“Both Jacob and Drew Huffman pitched very well and are fine-tuning for the postseason,” Vota said. “We had some timely hitting that will also be key as we move on. We need work on some detail areas of our game as we move forward and are excited for the challenges we will face in the near future.”

The Vikings had seven hits in the game, including a pair by Hamm. Austin Curran doubled for the lone extra base hit for Niles.

LAKESHORE 2-2, NILES 5-1

At Niles

First game

Lakeshore 200 000 0 – 2 5 1

Niles 130 100 x – 5 6 2

Lucas Meyer (L); Jakob Huffman (W).

2B: Cody Glick (N).

3B: Connor Brawley (L).

Second game

Lakeshore 000 001 01 – 2 7 2

Niles 000 001 00 – 1 7 0

Tyler Mojsiejenko, Connor Brawley (8, W); Drew Huffman, Bryce Lake (L).

2B: Brawley (L), Mojsiejenko (L), Austin Curran (N).

Varsity record: Niles 13-14.