By By ERIKA PICKLES / Niles Daily Star
NILES – The Niles and St. Joseph varsity baseball teams split a Big 16 doubleheader Tuesday.
The Bears took a 2-1 win in the first game, while the Vikes overcame some heavy obstacles in the second game to claim a 1-0 win.
With two outs in the bottom of the seventh inning and runners in scoring position for St. Joe, John Witt doubled for the Bears.
Jarret Bross was intentionally walked for St. Joe, leaving two runners on base.
The outcome rested on the shoulders of Nicholas Kirkpatrick, who popped out to Niles pitcher D.J. Wolnik. In the process, however, Wolnik collided with catcher Dan Holland, almost giving up the out.
In the first game, the Vikes were tied with the Bears at one after four innings of play. But St. Joseph took a 2-1 lead in the top of the eighth inning after Dayton Devoir walked with one out, advanced to second on a steal and ended up scoring on a teammates single.
Jake Ferguson suffered his first loss of the season at the mound. Ferguson is now 5-1.
Jarret Bross was the winning pitcher.
In the second game, it was Wolnik picking up the win when he came in for relief for pitcher Zach Bloss.
Niles will hit the diamond again this Saturday when it hosts the Niles Invite, which begins at 10 a.m.
Game one
At Niles
St. Joseph 000 100 01 – 2 7 1
Niles 000 001 00 – 1 4 1
WP – Jarret Bross (4-2) and Niko Seifert
LP – Jake Ferguson (5-1) and Dan Holland.
2B: Cam Luther (SJ).
3B: Ryan Johnson (SJ), Zach Bloss (N).
Game Two
St. Joseph 000 000 0 – 0 2 2
Niles 000 010 X – 1 3 2
WP – D.J. Wolnik, Zach Bloss and Dan Holland.
LP – David Brennan, Nicholas Kirkpatrick (6) and Niko Seifert
2B: Cam Luther (SJ), John Witt (SJ), Alex Welch (N).
Records: St. Joseph 9-9 overall (2-2 Southwestern Michigan Athletic Conference West Division), Niles 12-9 overall (3-1 West).