SOUTH EUCLID, Ohio -- A pair of freshmen propelled Notre Dame to a doubleheader sweep over Lake Erie at Campus Field on Friday. (Gm-1 | Gm-2)

Pitcher #Ashley Harbarger# tossed a game-one no-hitter and second baseman #Christine Kasidonis# went 5-for-6 with two doubles, as NDC earned 5-0 and 6-3 victories. The two freshman players led a balanced effort -- on the mound, in the field and at the plate -- for a Falcon squad that is now 4-0 at home this season.

With the dual victories, Notre Dame (9-14) claims back-to-back wins for the first time since March 1-2. Prior to Friday's meeting with Lake Erie, the Falcons had lost 13 of their previous 14 contests.

Harbarger was dominant in the opener. She struck out the side in the first inning and fanned six, giving up just a walk the first time through the LEC order. NDC plated a solo run in the first on a two-out RBI single by Kasidonis. The falcons added another run on a home run to left by #Mallory Harder# leading off the third. Harder would knock in two more runs in a three-run sixth for Notre Dame.

Notre Dame committed fielding errors in the fourth and seventh innings, but those would be the only base runners the Storm could muster after the walk in the third. The last eight outs Harbarger recorded were without the benefit of a strikeout, but they were outs nonetheless and the no-hitter was preserved. She finished the game with a personal season-high eight strikeouts.

Harder was in the circle for NDC in game two, and she was touched up for a leadoff home run in the first. The Falcons answered with a two-out, two-run single by Harbarger in the bottom half of the inning. After the Storm plated two more in the second, NDC exploded for four runs in their half of the second, and that was all the scoring for the game.

Over the two games combined, nine of the Falcons' 11 runs came with two outs. In game two, Notre Dame went 7-for-11 with runners in scoring position.

Harder settled down in the late innings of the second game. Her final line - three runs (one earned) on five hits over seven innings. The sophomore hurler walked two while striking out one. Harder's location was excellent late in the game; she recorded 12 groundball outs over her seven frames of work.

At the plate, Harder was a combined 5-for-8 with four RBIs.

“I thought the team came out today with a new attitude and spirit,” said Head Coach #Amy Kyler#. “Ashley's no-hitter was exciting, really a team effort. She knew her job and was in a zone for the full seven innings.”

The Falcons are scheduled to begin American Mideast Conference play of Saturday, April 3, with a trip to Portsmouth, Ohio, to take on Shawnee State. The doubleheader against the first-place Bears (3-0 in AMC play) is slated to get underway at 2 p.m.


NOTES FROM THE NEST …

SECOND SEASON: NDC's twin bill at Shawnee State on Saturday will mark the first two games in a 16-game AMC slate. The Falcons will meet each of eight circuit foes for two games, with four doubleheaders scheduled at home and four away. A year ago, Notre Dame swept the AMC regular-season and tournament titles, going 18-2 in 20 AMC contests.

CALMING THE STORM: With their home sweep of LEC on Friday, Notre Dame is now 14-0 all-time against the Storm. In those 14 games, the Falcons have outscored Lake Erie, 162-17.

THIRD TIME'S A CHARM: Friday's first game marked the third start of the season for Ashley Harbarger. The 5-foot-9 freshman from Akron, Ohio, had given up eight earned runs over 6-1/3 innings in her two previous starts. Prior to Friday, Harbarger had also made six relief appearances on the season. With her performance against the Storm, Harbarger has now allowed just one earned run over her last 16-1/3 innings. For the season, she is now 3-2 with a team-best 3.34 ERA. She has fanned 29 batters in 29-1/3 innings pitched.

A GOOD FRIDAY: Christine Kasidonis broke out of a prolonged slump with her five-hit day against Lake Erie. Over her previous 12 games, the Brunswick, Ohio, native had gone 2-for-36 at the plate. Despite that slump, Kasidonis is still batting .295 (18-for-61) on the season. … NDC scored in the first inning of each game on Friday. The Falcons are now 8-2 this season when scoring in the first.

REDEMPTION: Notre Dame pitchers allowed just one earned run in 14 innings against Lake Erie. Over their previous three games -- against Findlay and Baldwin-Wallace, NDC hurlers had been knocked around to the tune of 23 earned runs in 19 innings.