By By DAN WEISS / Niles Daily Star
St. Joseph proved to be too much for the Niles varsity softball team Tuesday afternoon in a Big 16 Conference West Division doubleheader.
The Bears, ranked No. 9 in Division 2, swept Niles with wins of 5-1 and 7-0.
Cara Frucci drove in the only run for the Vikings in the first game with a solo homer. Tasha Lary added a double and a single. Ashton Parks, Kate Whittaker, Stephanee Schrader and Julie Kater each added a single.
Kari Eckstein (7-4) took the pitching loss in the opener.
Kater (6-4) took the pitching loss in the second game with relief help from Frucci in the fifth inning.
Niles managed just two hits in the second game. Whittaker and Schrader each hit a single.
The Lady Vikings, now 13-8, travel to South Bend, Ind. Adams today for asingle game at 6:30 p.m. and will play at Sturgis in a Big 16 Conference crossover contest Thursday at 5 p.m.