SOUTH EUCLID, Ohio – The Notre Dame Falcons secured a spot in the American Mideast Conference playoffs with a doubleheader sweep over Point Park (Pa.) at Campus Field on Thursday afternoon, winning game one, 7-5, and took game two via the mercy rule, 11-3. (Gm-1) | (Gm-2)

Before Thursday's doubleheader, the Falcons (21-22, 12-4) were in second place in the American Mideast Conference standings, sitting a game and a half behind Shawnee State, and a game up on both Malone and Walsh. Thursday's sweep guaranteed NDC another postseason bid, as Notre Dame has won 11 of their last 12 conference games to turn their season around. Point Park (19-11, 8-7) needed to sweep the Falcons and get some help in order to keep their playoff hopes alive, but despite their better than .500 record, they'll more than likely miss the postseason.

Despite scoring early in the first contest, the Falcons still had to rally to come from behind and take the opening contest. #Charisse Colston# brought #Mallory Harder# home on a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the first inning to give NDC an early edge. The Falcons then took a 3-0 lead in the home half of the second when #Michelle Dykes# belted a two-run homer, her third of the season.

The Pioneers unleashed the fury with a five run fifth inning to take the lead. Point Park plated their five runs on just three hits, and the inning was highlighted by Amanda Ardiner's three-run double. The 5-3 lead was not enough to hold the Falcons down, as the Blue & White rallied to score four times and regained the lead in the sixth inning. It was a throwing error which allowed both Dykes and #Nichole Spehar# to score, tying the game at 5-5, and Colston came through yet again as she belted a single to right field, scoring both #Candace Shofar# and Harder to give the Falcons the lead for good.

The Falcons picked up right where they left off in the first inning of the second game, scoring five times on five hits to open up a 5-0 lead. #Felisha Jones# drilled a double down the left field line to score Harder and Shofar, and Michelle Dykes followed with her fourth hit of the twin bill, a two run single to give the Falcons a 4-0 lead. Dykes scored a few moments later on #Ashley Harbarger#'s first of three hits in the contest, a base hit back up the middle to cap the five run frame.

Ardinger plated a pair of runs for Point Park on a double to left center field in the top of the third inning to pull Point Park within three runs, but the Falcons responded in the next half inning with two runs of their own, on Harbarger's double to right center field. Notre Dame put the game out of reach with a four run fourth inning. Three of the runs scored on errors committed by Point Park third baseman Danielle Dorunda, and Harbarger helped herself out again in the fourth frame on a run scoring single.

#Meredith Harbarger# (4-11) came on in relief in game one and snagged the victory, after allowing a pair of unearned runs on four hits over three innings. The victory was her second in her last three appearances and it was her second in a relief role. Ashley Harbarger (8-4) tossed all five innings of the second game, and allowed just three runs on seven hits with three strikeouts in a winning effort.

Dykes led the Falcons with four hits on the afternoon. The Youngstown, Ohio, native went 4-for-5 in the twin bill with four runs scored and four RBIs. Harbarger went 3-for-3 in the second game and knocked in four runs, while Colston went 2-for-5, scoring two times, and knocked in three. #Melissa Dykes# also hit safely three times on the afternoon, turning in a 3-for-6 performance during the doubleheader.

The Falcons will be back in action on Friday, April 30, when they host Spring Arbor University at Campus Field. The first pitch in game one of the doubleheader is scheduled for 4 p.m.

NOTES FROM THE NEST

LEADERS OF THE PACK: The Falcons lead the AMC in runs scored with 258. Their .331 (394-for-1191) overall team batting average is tops in the circuit as well, and they lead the AMC in hits (394), and triples (12). Colston is the AMC leader in runs scored with 49. The sophomore transfer from Lincoln University also leads the circuit in both triples (5) and total bases (91).

HOME RUNS: NDC is averaging 7.3 runs on 10 hits per game over 16 home contests this season. The Falcons have won eight in a row at Campus Field. They are 9-1 in conference home games this season. Notre Dame is hitting .356 (160-for-449) on College Road, and they've outscored their opponents 114-58 in 16 home tilts in the 2010 campaign.

CONQUERING THE CONFERENCE: By clinching a spot in the postseason on Thursday, the Falcons have not missed the playoffs since 2004. The Falcons are 44-12 in conference play, dating back to the 2008 season. Notre Dame is hitting .361 (167-for-462) in 16 conference tilts during the 2010 season, with a 2.51 team ERA.