PITTSBURGH, Pa. -- With their seventh consecutive sweep on Friday, Notre Dame clinched the program's first American Mideast Conference (AMC) regular season title.  The Falcons (24-8, 17-1 AMC) dispatching of Point Park, 9-0 and 11-1, coincided with Rio Grande dropping two today to assure the Blue & White of the title.  

Four seniors led the Falcon onslaught, most notably by first baseman #Lianna Holub#, who was 5-for-6 on the day with three RBI.

Third baseman #Anna Ball# and shortstop # Stephanie Tartaglione# were each 3-for-7 on the day with four RBI apiece. Ball's four runs batted in were the result of her grand slam in the second game.

Right-hander #Tara Meyer# hit 5-for-7 with three doubles and four runs driven in, including a 4-for-4 performance in game one. Meyer also threw a three-hit shutout in the game as well.

Game 1
Notre Dame jumped out early with four runs in the first inning to set the tone for the afternoon. Ball would score the first run on a Point Park error, after singling to lead off the game. Senior catcher #Jill Gigliotti# doubled later in the inning to drive in her 28th run of the season. Run scoring singles by Meyer and Holub rounded out the Falcon scoring in the opening inning.

NDC would pick up a pair of runs in the third on three consecutive hits after PPU had recorded two outs to start off the inning. Tartaglione and Meyer hit back-to-back doubles, with Tartaglione scoring on Meyer's two-bagger. Holub followed with a single, scoring Meyer.

Three more runs in the Falcon sixth put the game on ice. Run scoring hits by Tartaglione and Meyer put the run-rule into effect. Meyer retired the Pioneers in order in the bottom of the inning to end the game.

Meyer hit safely in all four of her at-bats, including a pair of doubles and three RBI, to go along with her fifth straight victory. The senior transfer from Cleveland State only gave up singles in the third, fourth, and fifth innings, while recording five strikeouts, to raise her record to 12-3.

Game 2
The second game started exactly like the first with the Falcons plating four runs to open the game. Tartaglione drove in a pair on an RBI single, and Holub knocked in her third run of the day to highlight the scoring.

Tartaglione extended the lead to 4-0 with a RBI on a fielder's choice in the third.

For the second game in a row, Notre Dame had a big scoring inning after having two outs. This time NDC put across six runs in the fifth. Meyer opened the scoring with her third run scoring double of the afternoon, and senior second baseman #Heather Sheber# knocked in her fourth run of the season with her RBI single, scoring Meyer.

Sheber's hit loaded the bases for Ball, who proceeded to clear the bases with her seventh home run of the season, this one a grand slam.

Sophomore starter #Meredith Harbarger# allowed one run on six hits to improve to 11-4.

Notre Dame will return to College Road tomorrow, Saturday, April 25, as they'll host Malone in a make-up doubleheader from last week. First pitch is set for 1 p.m.