Host Niles scored four runs in the first inning of both games Saturday to sweep Cassopolis 5-0 and 7-6 in non-conference baseball action.

The Vikings used a double by Chris Mangus and a three-run home run by Mitchell Dehn score four runs in the first inning of the opener.

Landon Kulwicki and Matt Schiele both had two hits for Niles.

Dehn went the distance on the mound, throwing a one-hitter with 12 strikeouts and four walks.

Despite grabbing a 4-0 lead in the opening inning of the second game, nothing came easy for the Vikings.

Cassopolis clawed its way back into the game with two runs in the third, fifth and sixth innings to take a 6-5 lead on Niles.

The Vikings responded with two runs in the bottom of the sixth to pull out the victory.

Connor Glick doubled following a single by Tate Brawley to open the first inning for the Vikings. Mangus then hit a three-run home run to stake Niles to the early lead. Taylor Weldy singled home Kulwicki with the fourth run of the inning.

The Rangers cut the lead to 4-2 on RBI singles by Tyler Prestly and Kevin Hatcher.

After Niles had opened up a 5-2 advantage in the fourth, Cassopolis scored twice in the fifth to make it a 5-4 contest. A.J. Green drove in Hatcher and J.J. Smith singled home Lance Sheteron.

The Rangers took the lead with two more runs in the sixth. Sheteron singled home Vashaun Morgon to tie the game at five and Prestly scored on a fielder’s choice play.

In the bottom of the sixth, Niles reclaimed the lead when Dehn singled home Glick and Mangus.

Mangus picked up the victory in relief of starter Brawley.

Weldy was 3-for-4 for the Vikings, who also got two hits from Brawley and Glick.

Sheteron had two hits for the Rangers, as did Voss.

Morgan suffered the loss in relief.

 

First game

Cassopolis 000 000 0 – 0 1 4

Niles 400 001 x – 5 9 1

Mitchell Dehn (W); J.J. Smith (L)

2B: Chris Mangus (N)

HR: Dehn (N)

 

Second game

Cassopolis 002 022 0 – 6 9 0

Niles 400 102 x 7 9 1

Tate Brawley, Chris Mangus (W); Lance Sheteron, Nick Baker, Vashaun Morgan (L)
2B: Alex Voss (C), Jessie Richey (C), Tate Brawley (N), Connor Glick (N)
HR: Chris Mangus (N)