By By SCOTT NOVAK / Dowagiac Daily News
Visiting Niles swept a Big 16 Conference West Division doubleheader from Dowagiac Tuesday afternoon at Rotary Park.
The Vikings, ranked No. 8 in the latest poll, won the opening game 16-6 and then took the nightcap, 17-0.
The win sets up a showdown with St. Joseph on May 17. Both Niles and St. Joseph are undefeated in the West Division.
The Vikings are the defending West Division champions.
Dowagiac (8-12, 1-5 SMAC West) jumped out to a 2-0 lead on the Vikings in the bottom of the first, but the Vikings knotted the score with two runs in the top of the second and then took the lead for good in the top of the fourth with two more runs.
The Vikings (17-3, 6-0 SMAC West) erupted for seven runs in the fifth, one in the sixth and four in the seventh to turn the game into a rout.
Dowagiac scored a single run in the sixth and three in the bottom of the seventh to complete the scoring.
The Vikings pounded out 20 hits off of numerous Chieftain pitchers.
Josh Henry had two doubles for the Vikings, who also got a home run from Matt Richardson and a double and a triple from Aaron Ralston.
Richardson was also the winning pitcher.
Jesse Cox started and took the loss for the Chieftains. Cox allowed eight runs on 12 hits with two strike outs and a walk over four innings.
Dowagiac finished with nine hits, led by Jordan Huey's double. David Stuppy had two hits for the Chieftains.
In the nightcap Niles collected 16 hits.
Richardson picked up his second home run of the day, while Cory Coquillard doubled and tripled.
Jesse Sallak was the winning pitcher.
Scott Wilkinson worked three innings for Dowagiac and took the loss. Wilkinson allowed nine runs on eight hits with a strike out and a walk.
Offensively for the Chieftains Mike Kasper, Jamie Simpson and Rob Duszynski each had a single.
JV baseball
The Dowagiac junior varsity baseball team was swept by host Niles Tuesday afternoon. Niles won the first game 6-5 and then the nightcap, 8-7.
Troy Stover (2-2) took the loss in relief of starter Jason Fryman in the first game. Kyle Prak went 2-for-4 with a home run, while Tony Saviano was 2-for-4 with a double and three RBIs. Chris Primley and Ryan Laylin both singled and drove in a run.
Saviano (3-1) took the loss in relief in the nightcap.
Prak was 2-for-4 with a double, while Ryan Laylin doubled and drove in a run.
Jake Shelton doubled, while Adam Hess had two hits and an RBI. Kyle Bailey and DJ Edgerly both singled and drove in a run.