The Niles Vikings softball team split a doubleheader with visiting Coloma on Thursday afternoon at Bella Park.

Niles took the first game in dramatic fashion, scoring three runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to win 6-5. The Comets would bounce back in the nightcap to win easily 15-2.

Trailing 5-3 entering the bottom half of the seventh inning, the Lady Vikings came to bat knowing what they needed to do, score three runs and win the game.

After two singles to start the inning managed to get the tying runner on second with only one out, Viking freshman Tala Gentry ripped a long fly ball down the left field line that looked to be the walk-off game winning home run, but it hooked foul and kept the Vikings celebration on hold a little while longer. A couple of pitches later Gentry stroked a line drive into right field plating one runner, moving the tying run to third. After Gentry stole second, Niles had the tying run on third, and the winning run at second with Hannah Porterfield at the plate.

With the Comets bringing everyone in to try and have a play at home plate if necessary, Porterfield found a pitch she liked and drove it into left field for a double. As the ball squirted between the left and center fielders rolling toward the fence, both Niles runners came across the plate to score giving the Lady Vikings the thrilling 6-5 victory.

“I thought we played hard, hit the ball the whole game, and played pretty well defensively and I was happy,” said Niles coach Gary Collins.

Collins wasn’t as happy after the second game as the Vikings didn’t do a whole lot right as they were on the wrong end of a lopsided 15-2 finish.

“The second game we played like freshman and sophomores. Once things started to go bad, it really went bad” he continued.

Niles will next play against Mattawan on Tuesday.

First game

Coloma 103 001 0 – 5 12 2

Niles 200 100 3 – 6 12 4

Molly VandeKeere (W) and Hannah Poterfield

Emily Najacht (L) and Seralyn Sharma

2B: Amanda Swihart (CO), Emily Najacht (CO), Charissa Spear (N), Tala Gentry (N), Portfield (N)

Second game

Coloma 101 240 7 – 15 8 2

Niles 002 000 0 – 2 10 9

Jenny Wallace (W) and Seralyn Sharma

Molly VandeKeere (L) and Hannah Porterfield

2B: Amanda Swihart (CO)

Varsity records

Coloma 4-5, Niles 2-3

Brandywine softball

The Brandywine softball team swept a non-conference doubleheader from Eau Claire on Thursday.

The Bobcats won the opening game 9-2 and then completed the sweep with a 16-1 victory in four innings.

Brande Overholt struck out 12 and tossed a two-hitter to earn the victory in the opening game.

The Bobcats scored all nine runs in the first four innings of the contest.

Mikayla Kemp had a pair of doubles for Brandywine, which also got a double from Overholt. Madison Pellow added a triple.

In the nightcap, Kemp tossed a one-hitter with seven strikeouts. She also hit a three-run home run.

Paige Jeffrey and Overholt each had doubles.

First game

Eau Claire 000 000 0 – 0 2 2

Brandywine 421 200 x – 9 10 2

Brande Overholt (W) and Rachael Ort

Garlanger (L) and Harmon

2B: Overholt (BW), Mikayla Kemp (BW) 2, Galanger (EC)

3B: Madison Pellow (BW)

Second game

Eau Claire 001 0 – 1 1 1

Brandywine 351 7 – 16 8 2

Mikayla Kemp (W) and Rachael Ort

Krugh (L) and Harmon

2B: Paige Jeffrey (BW), Brande Overholt (BW)

HR: Kemp (BW)