AVON, Ohio -- For a second straight game at All Pro Freight Stadium in Avon, Notre Dame's record-setting offense was held in check by the visiting nine. On Wednesday, NDC bats were silenced by Lake Erie, as the Storm earned a 2-1 victory over the Falcons. (Box)

Notre Dame (24-17) was held to seven hits -- six singles and a double -- by two Storm pitchers over the nine-inning affair in the special “home-away-from-home”, Westside ball game. With the loss, the Falcons have lost both games played at the park, which is home to the Lake Erie Crushers, a Frontier League franchise started in 2009. NDC lost to Miami-Hamilton, 4-2, on April 18. The combined three runs over 18 innings of baseball represent Notre Dame's worst offensive output over back-to-back games this season. Prior to the two Avon games, NDC's offense had been clicking, on a pace to set program marks for numerous batting categories, including runs scored and OPS (on-base plus slugging).

On Wednesday against Lake Erie (15-23), the Falcons managed few quality scoring chances against the Storm, and what few they did manage were squandered by clutch LEC pitching and sloppy base running by NDC. The Blue & White had seven hits and drew four walks, but the Falcons had two runners picked off (one at second base) and had a runner caught attempting to steal third with one out in the ninth.

Sophomore right-hander #Sean Harnish# started the game for Notre Dame; he would go four innings in the non-conference game that Head Coach #Nick Weisheipl# staffed by committee. Harnish was followed by #Leonard Mora#, #Matt Fritz# and #Simon Davis#.

Lake Erie struck first in the game, manufacturing a run against Harnish in the third.

The Falcons didn't manage a base hit off LEC starter Logan Nordquist until senior #Brett Zientarski# got aboard on a bunt single leading off the home half of the fifth. Nordquist -- a relief pitcher making his first start of the year -- came into the game with an ERA of 6.75, but he was solid against NDC, keeping Falcon hitters off balance and off base.

After Zientarski's hit in the fifth, Notre Dame got runners to second and third with one out, but Nordquist escaped unscathed in what turned out to be his final inning.

Nordquist was relieved by Adam Beach, who went the rest of the way to garner his first save of the season. NDC got to Beach for four hits and three walks, but the LEC right-hander managed to strand six runners and was the benefactor in the Storm retiring two Falcon base runners in scoring position.

The Falcons plated their lone run in the sixth inning, when a Zientarski single brought home #Pat Ross#. Zientarski, a native of nearby Vermilion, Ohio, went 2-for-4 with a walk in five plate appearances. Ross also reached base three times for NDC, with a hit and two walks.

With the loss, Notre Dame is now 7-8 in the month of April. The Falcons will look to get back to their winning ways in a four-game, non-conference series at Urbana over the weekend (Saturday and Sunday, April 24-25).


NOTES FROM THE NEST …

NDC, LEC GO FOURTH: Wednesday's game marked the fourth meeting between the Falcons and Storm and the first NDC home game in the all-time series between the two eastside foes. With loss, Notre Dame is now 2-2 all-time against LEC.

HIT MAN: With a base hit on Wednesday, Pat Ross is now just one hit away from tying Eric Pelot's program record for most hits in a single-season (61). Ross has already set NDC's season mark for most runs scored, with 49 thus far. The freshman outfielder is batting .426 (60-for-141), which would also be a new single-season mark.

PITCHING IN: Sean Harnish's start on marked his first of the season. The sophomore right-hander had previously appeared in seven games out of the NDC bullpen. Harnish has allowed just three earned runs over his last 9-1/3 innings.