CEDARVILLE, Ohio -- Notre Dame used some outstanding pitching and timely hitting to win both games of a doubleheader, 4-2 and 9-0, at Cedarville on Saturday. The Falcons are now 9-7 overall, and 2-0 in the American Mideast Conference (AMC). CU falls to 11-17, and 1-3 in AMC play.

Senior #Tara Meyer# went the distance in the first game, scattering six hits and striking out nine. Not to be outdone, sophomore #Meredith Harbarger# allowed only three hits while whiffing two batters in the nightcap.

Senior #Stephanie Tartaglione# was the main offensive threat for the Blue & White, going 4-for-7 with two triples and three RBI. Tartaglione also scored a pair of runs.

Game 1
Meyer led the way for the Falcons in the first game, keeping the Lady Jacket bats at bay until NDC could get their offense going.

Cedarville struck first in the bottom of the fifth on a two RBI single by Leah Baker to left. The inning was set up by a throwing error by the Falcons, after a leadoff single followed by Meyer's only walk of the afternoon loaded the bases for CU. Meyer rebounded to hold the Lady Jackets to only the two runs.

The Blue & White bats came alive in the top of the sixth. After freshman #Mallory Harder# reached on an error and senior #Jill Gigliotti# walked, Tartaglione stepped to the plate and belted a bases clearing triple to right center. Senior #Lianna Holub# would bring Tartaglione home on her RBI single, and later score on a Cedarville throwing error.

Tartaglione finished the game going 2-for-3 with two RBI to lead the Falcon hitters. Harder went 3-for-4 with a run scored.

Meyer (6-3) went the distance on the mound, scattering six hits. The senior transfer from Cleveland State allowed two runs, one earned, to go along with her nine strikeouts.

Baker led CU, going 2-for-3 with the 2 RBI.

Game 2
In the nightcap, NDC toyed with Cedarville, putting up single runs in the third, fourth, and fifth innings, before blowing the game wide open with a six-run sixth.

Senior #Anna Ball# put the Falcons on the board in the third with an RBI single down the left field line to score freshman #Michelle Dykes#.

Dykes would pick up an RBI of her own the next inning, scoring Tartaglione, who had just hit her second triple of the day.
Senior #Jessica Fiorilli# would make it 3-0 for the Falcons in the fifth, as she scored on a Harder sacrifice fly after hitting a triple of her own to center.

The Falcons' carousel around the bases in the sixth was highlighted by a Dykes RBI double, Ball's two RBI double, and Tartaglione's RBI single to center. Notre Dame picked up two more runs on a Lady Jacket throwing error.

For the game, Dykes finished 2-for-2 with two RBI and two runs scored, Ball finished 2-for-4 with three RBI, and Tartaglione finished 2-for-4 with an RBI. Fiorilli also had a pair of hits and scored two runs.

Harbarger (3-4) gave up only a single in each of the first two innings, and a double in the third to stymie the CU offense.

The Falcons will make their College Road debut next Friday, April 3, as they'll host Rio Grande in an AMC doubleheader. First pitch is slated for 3 p.m.


NOTES FROM THE NEST…

STREAKIN' AT THE RIGHT TIME: With Saturday's results, Notre Dame has now won five of their last six games. Their lone loss in that stretch was in their last game, at John Carroll (3/24). … The two wins on Saturday were the first two at Cedarville since the 1999 season. In that span, NDC is 0-8 at CU. The Falcons are now 4-11 all-time against CU. … Tartaglione now owns a nine game hitting streak after Saturday's games. The senior from Euclid has gone 15-for-30 during the streak.

END OF THE LINE: The third inning double in the second game was the first extra base hit allowed by Harbarger in her last three outings. The shutdown streak spanned over thirteen innings.