UNIVERSITY HEIGHTS, Ohio -- Notre Dame travelled a mere 1-1/2 miles to its game on Tuesday, but regardless of the length of the trek, the result was still the same, as the Falcons collected their 10th win by beating John Carroll, 8-2. (Box)

NDC, which hasn't lost since March 3, got a nice pitching performance from junior right-hander #Matt Fritz# and three Falcon relievers. Notre Dame has now held foes under four runs in each of their last eight games.

The Falcons (17-6) were paced offensively by #Pat Ross# (2-for-5, two stolen bases) and #Travis Brown# (3-for-4, reached base four times) on what was a sun-splashed by chilly afternoon at John Carroll.

With the loss on their home turf at Schweickert Field, the Blue Streaks (6-9) have now dropped three straight games and six of their last seven. Prior to Tuesday's tilt in University Heights, John Carroll had won five straight games in the all-time series between the two eastside Cleveland programs.

Fritz, making his first start of the year, was staked to a 3-0 lead in the first inning when NDC plated a trio of runs with the benefit of a lone base hit. Pat Ross' leadoff single was followed by a stolen base, a walk, a hit batter, a sacrifice fly and a JCU error. The Blue Streaks got one of those runs back in the home half of the first, on their own sacrifice fly.

Notre Dame then opened things up by adding to their lead over the third and fourth innings. A sacrifice fly by #TJ Deininger# pushed across #Brad Morrison# for a solo run in the third. In the fourth, Morrison knocked in a pair of runs with a single to give NDC a 6-1 lead. That hit by Morrison chased left-hander Robbie Bellusci, whose final line included six hits and six runs allowed (four earned) over 3-1/3 innings.

Meanwhile, Fritz -- who had previously appeared in four games out of the NDC bullpen -- cruised through five frames of one-run baseball before being lifted for #Chris Willoughby#. Fritz allowed just the one run while yielding five hits and three walks. He also struck out three batters in registering his first win since March 4, 2010.

Notre Dame outhit John Carroll, 10-8, for the game and overcame four errors by a Falcon defense that had been steady of late.

Tuesday's game was originally slated to be played on Wednesday, but the game was moved up a day in an effort to avoid an iffy weather forecast on Wednesday.

The Falcons are slated to open their American Mideast Conference schedule with a home doubleheader (Pipe Yard, Lorain) against Cedarville on Thursday, March 31. The AMC twin bill is scheduled for a 1 p.m. first pitch and will be the front half of a home-and-home four-game series between the Falcons and Yellow Jackets. NDC is scheduled to play a doubleheader at CU on Saturday.


NOTES FROM THE NEST …

SERIES RECAP: Notre Dame and JCU have now met 12 times, with NDC winning seven of those games and the Blue Streaks winning five. … The last time NDC and JCU met -- April 6, 2010, at Paul Serra Field in Euclid, Ohio -- the game produced 42 total runs in a 22-20 win for the Blue Streaks. The two nines combined to hit 10 home runs in the game (NDC 6, JCU 4)

KINGS OF THE HILL: Matt Fritz' effort on Tuesday continued a nice recent trend for Falcon starting pitchers. NDC starters have combined to allow just eight earned runs over their last 43 innings of work (1.67 ERA). Prior to Tuesday's game the starting staff had posted a 3.80 ERA and 91 strikeouts in 116 innings pitched (7.1 per nine innings) this season. … Those NDC starters have been key factors in preserving early leads for the team -- Notre Dame is now 13-1 this season when scoring first and 9-0 when plating a run in the first inning.

ODDS & ENDS: Notre Dame is 6-1 this season when facing left-handed starters. … NDC drew five walks in the game and is on pace to earn 208 this season, which would eclipse the program record of 163 set last season. … The Falcons are 6-2 this season in road games. … Tuesday's game marked the 30th career pitching appearance by Chris Willoughby. He is the leader in appearances among current Falcon players. … With the win, Notre Dame is 12-4 in 16 March games thus far in 2011 and 26-9 in March over the last two years.