PAINESVILLE, Ohio -- Notre Dame hit four home runs on the day, including two in the first game by senior third baseman #Mike Wilsey#, to earn a split, 11-4 and 7-5, with Lake Erie on Tuesday. 

Sophomore first baseman #Matt Brofman# went 4-for-7 in the two games, hitting a two-run home run in the second game. Junior second baseman #Eric Johnson# went 3-for-6, and extended his hitting streak to eight games. Wilsey finished the day 4-for-9.

Freshman Ryan Rua was the big hitter for the Storm (3-14), going 3-for-6 with a home run. 

With the split, Notre Dame (5-15) is now 3-3 over their last six contests.

Game 1
After seeing Lake Erie jump out to an early 2-0 lead, Notre Dame's bats came alive in their half of the fourth. NDC scored four runs on two hits and two LEC errors in the inning, highlighted by Wilsey's first home run of the game, a two-run shot to left.

The Falcons would tack on two more in the fifth on back-to-back solo shots by Sito and Wilsey.

The Storm tried to get back in the game in the sixth, cutting the NDC lead to 6-4 on a two-run homer by Ben Willis. However, the Falcons put the game away for good in the top of the seventh. The Blue & White scored five runs on four hits and an error to push their lead to 11-4. Sophomore center fielder #Ryan Weaver#, senior right fielder #Eric Pelot#, and Brofman each had RBI hits in the inning.

Freshman right-hander #Alex Walke# started game one for the Falcons.  He went six innings, giving up four runs (three earned) on seven hits. The Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, product walked one and struck out three in picking up the victory. Senior southpaw #Jon Harnish# pitched a one-two-three seventh to finish the game for NDC.

Lake Erie was undone by five errors, and five unearned runs, in the game.

Game 2
In the nightcap, NDC took a 1-0 lead in the first on three walks and an RBI single by Johnson. Lake Erie returned fire in the home half of the third when a Ryan Rua home run highlighted a 3-run inning.

In the fourth, Matt Brofman's first home run of the season, a two-run shot to center field, tied the score, 3-3. 

Falcon starter #Chris Willoughby# was then chased in the bottom of the fourth after giving up an RBI single to center fielder Dan Dowdell.  For the game, Willoughby allowed five hits in 3-2/3 innings.  The freshman portsider from Massillon, Ohio, yielded five runs (one earned) and two walks, while fanning  pair.  He was relieved by junior right-hander #Sunny Dhaliwal#, who entered the game with the Falcons trailing, 5-3.

Notre Dame tied the game at 5-5 with a two-spot in the top of the sixth and appeared to be poised for a comeback with Dhaliwal cruising.  From the fourth through the sixth, Dhaliwal did not allow a hit while striking out four.  In the top of the seventh, NDC left a pair of runners in scoring position, setting up LEC for their walk-off win.  The Falcons went 0-for-9 with runners in scoring position in game two (2-for-21 on the day).

In the bottom of the seventh the Storm would have the final say in the game. Rua led off the inning with a single to right and then catcher Ben Reed hit a two-run, walk-off home run to secure the LEC victory.

Notre Dame will continue their 2009 slate on Saturday and Sunday, March 28-29, with a four-game series at Ohio Dominican in Columbus. Doubleheaders at Panther Valley are scheduled to start at 1 p.m. each day.


NOTES FROM THE NEST…

FOREST CITY CIRCUIT: NDC's twin bill with Lake Erie marked their first date of several against non-conference, northeast Ohio foes. The Falcons are also scheduled to face Baldwin-Wallace, Hiram, John Carroll, and Mount Union in the 2009 season. In American Mideast Conference play, NDC will face two more northeast Ohio opponents, Malone and Walsh, four games each.

DII PREVIEW: Lake Erie College is one of five current NCAA Division II schools in the state of Ohio. Notre Dame could be joining those ranks soon – the College announced plans to file for NCAA DII membership on Monday (March 23). … Tuesday's games marked the second and third all-time meetings between Notre Dame and Lake Erie. The Falcons defeated LEC, 18-3, on April 23, 2008 in their only other contest.

TWICE AS NICE: Mike Wilsey's two home runs in game one Tuesday came exactly two years after the last time that feat was accomplished by an NDC player. Eric Pelot hit two homers against Malone on March 24, 2007. ... For the season, Wilsey is batting .305/.349/.441 (batting/on-base/slugging).  He now has nine career home runs.