By By DAN WEISS / Niles Daily Star
NILES -- A visitor from the south ended the Niles softball team's winning ways, but not for long, Wednesday afternoon.
South Bend Adams came to Vella Park for an interstate doubleheader with the Lady Vikings and won the first game 8-5 before Niles rebounded for a 7-6 win in the second game.
Niles, now 16-16, led 2-1 after four innings of play in the first game, but then the Eagles rallied to score five runs in the top of the fifth inning.
Niles managed three runs in the bottom of the fifth inning but no more as Adams went on to score two in the top of the seventh for the 8-5 win.
Kari Eckstein struck out eight batters in the losing effort. Nikki Lintz and Jessica Johnson each had two hits to lead the Niles hitting attack. Lindsay Carey, Stephanee Schrader, Kate Whittaker and Ashton Parks each added one hit in the first game.
Trailing by on run in the second game, Lintz led off the bottom of the seventh with a double, her second of the game. Schrader and Johnson followed with hits that scored Lintz to tie the game. Merrilee Wuthnow's base hit scored the game-winner.
Schrader finished the second game with three hits and Tasha Lary had two. Jessica Cornelius also had one hit.
Niles will take on Dowagiac in the South Bend Clay Tournament Saturday at 10 a.m.
Adams….8
Niles…….5
Adams 000 150 2--8 9 1
Niles 010 130 0--5 8 0
Laura Magliozzi (W); Kari Eckstein (L, 7-9).
Niles……7
Adams….6
Adams 013 011 0--6 12 2
Niles 400 100 2--7 10 2
Crystal Crouch, Kari Eckstein (6, W, 8-9); Glueckert (L).
2B: Nikki Lintz (N) 2
Team records: Niles 16-16, Adams 10-16