NORTH CANTON, Ohio -- The Notre Dame Falcons split an American Mideast Conference double header at Walsh on Saturday, dropping the first game 8-5, but came from behind to win the second game, 5-3 (Gm-1 | Gm-2).

Notre Dame (9-15, 3-1) has now won six out of their last eight games, averaging 9.8 runs per game during that stretch. With the split, Walsh (10-11, 2-2), has victories in four out of their last six games, allowing just 4.0 runs per game during that span.

#Charisse Colston# kept her hitting streak alive with hits in both games, extending her hitting streak to eight games after going 3-for-8, with a run, two RBI's, and she hit her 11th homerun of the season. 

The Falcons outhit Walsh, 9-5 in the first game, but still came out on the losing end. Walsh took control early on by scoring three times in the bottom of the first inning and never looked back. Notre Dame did cut into Walsh's early lead in the top of the second after #Christine Kasidonis# belted a solo homerun, her first of the season, and her first of two in the contest to make it a 3-1 game.

The Cavaliers answered Kasidonis's long ball with a five run third inning to put the game out of reach. Kendra Gerber brought in the first two runs of the inning on a double, before Jenna Rosso knocked in the next two runs on a deep sacrifice fly to right field, and Ashley Virgin scored the final run of the inning on a passed ball, giving the Cavaliers an 8-1 lead after three innings.

Notre Dame was able to cut in to the lead by scoring three runs on four hits in the top of the fourth. #Michelle Dykes# belted a two-run single to score both Kasidonis and #Mallory Harder#, and Dykes touched home plate later in the inning on #Kelli Lennox#'s double. Kasidonis ripped another homerun for the Falcons in the seventh inning to plate NDC's final run.

Walsh had just four hits in the second contest, but were able to put three runs on the board over the game's first three innings. #Nicole Spehar#'s base hit plated Dykes to score the game's first run in the top of the second inning, and Spehar scored later in the inning after Harder walked with the bases loaded.

Erica Kreiling blasted a solo homerun for the Cavaliers in the bottom of the second to cut NDC's lead in half, and the Cavaliers plated two more runs in the home half of the third inning to take a 3-2 lead, scoring both runs on Rosso's two run single.

Last week's NAIA National Player of the week, #Charisse Colston# changed the complexion of the game in the next half inning, as she blasted a two-run homer, her 11th of the season to give the Falcons a 4-3 lead, one they would not surrender. The Falcons added an insurance run in the fifth inning, when Lennox's sacrifice fly plated Kasidonis.

The Falcon pitching staff held the Cavaliers to just nine hits on the afternoon. In game one, #Kim Lennox# was tagged with the loss for NDC, after allowing eight runs, seven earned on five hits over two and two-thirds. #Christina Hutchison# allowed three runs on three hits over three innings of work in the second game, while #Allysa Lancaster# (1) earned the save after tossing four scoreless innings of one hit relief.

Kasidonis finished the afternoon with a fine performance at the plate, going 4-for-8 with a pair of homeruns, four runs scored and three RBI's. Dykes went 3-for-7 in the twin bill with a pair of runs and two RBI.

Notre Dame is scheduled to play a home double header on Sunday, April 10, against Urbana. The first pitch at Campus Field is scheduled for 1 p.m.

NOTES FROM THE NEST …

CLASHES WITH THE CAVS: The Falcons are 10-26 against the Cavaliers all time, dating back to the 1997 season. Notre Dame dropped the first 16 games of the all time series, scoring their first victory against the Cavs on March 12, 2004. Since the 16 game skid, the series has been pretty balanced, although recently, the Falcons have taken five out of the last seven contests.

PITCHING IN: Notre Dame hurlers have allowed just 26 earned runs over their last eight games, producing an ERA of 3.56 during that stretch. Since opening the season with a 10 game losing streak, the Falcons have dropped their ERA 31 points, from 4.81 to 4.50.

CONFERENCE SUPREMACY: The Falcons are 33-5 in AMC action over their last three seasons. Notre Dame went 18-2 en route to an AMC title in 2009, and went 12-4 in the AMC in 2010, before capturing the conference title at the AMC tournament.