By By ERIKA PICKLES / Niles Daily Star
NILES - It was another tough night Thursday for the Niles varsity baseball team as the Vikes fell in two games to host Portage Northern in Big 16 non-divisional action.
Niles was held scoreless in the first game as the Huskies claimed a 7-0 win. The second game was closer, but the Vikes still fell 5-2.
In the first game, Drew Donohue was the lone top hitter for the Vikings, going 2-for-3 at the plate with two singles. Donohue also suffered the loss at the mound and Jake Ferguson pitched two innings for the Vikes.
In the second game, it took five innings for Niles to bring two runs across the plate, but Portage Northern already carried a 3-0 lead until that point.
Another run from the Huskies in the bottom of the fifth posted the final score of the evening.
Dustin Anderson was the losing pitcher for Niles, while Tim Hardy finished the game at the mound.
The Vikes are back in action on Saturday when they travel to Coldwater. Game time is set for noon.
Junior Varsity game
The Niles junior varsity baseball team split with Portage Northern at Thomas Stadium Thursday evening.
In the first game, Niles took a 10-3 win over the Huskies, but fell in the second game 6-3.
In the first game, Mike Simpson took the win at the mound for the Vikes.
Top hitters were Asaad Ali, who went 3-for-3, Jeff Jurgonski went 2-for-2 with one RBI and Nick Hartman added a double.
In the second game, Jason Duis suffered the loss at the mound.
Sean Gordon, Taylor Robson, Ali, Simpson and Andrew Brawley all had hits in the second game.