Box Score LORAIN, Ohio -- Notre Dame got solid pitching, some timely defense and a big, five-run fifth inning en route to a 5-4 win over John Carroll on Wednesday night. (Box)

After being held scoreless for four innings by John Carroll starter Jimmy Spagna, Notre Dame (9-11-1) sent 11 men to the plate in their five-run inning.  A two-run single off the bat of Jon Koepf was the big hit in a rally that came after the first two batters in the inning had been retired.  NDC left-hander Simon Davis started and pitched a season-high six innings for the win.  Tyler DeCrapio and Travis Bondy combined to pitch three effective innings for the Falcon bullpen.  Davis, DeCrapio and Bondy combined to strike out 10 batters without issuing a walk.

With the victory NDC has now won three in a row.  Wednesday's game came on the heels of the Falcons picking up the program's first win over an NCAA D-I team (Youngstown State) on Tuesday. 

John Carroll (4-7) has lost two in a row.  Wednesday's contest at Pipeyard Stadium marked the first of two scheduled games between the Falcons and Blue Streaks this season; the two east-side neighbors are slated to meet on Tuesday, March 27 in University Heights, Ohio.

“Our pitching has really come through the last two days,” said Interim Head Coach Len Barker.  “Simon kept us in tonight's game with a good approach, and Tyler and Travis cme up big over the last three innings.”

Also coming up big on Wednesday was the Falcon defense in the seventh inning of the contest.  With Notre Dame leading, 5-3, the NDC defense came up with three-run saving plays in the inning -- one each by Mike Ferguson, Alex Harms and Shane DeFranco.  The third of those was a leaping grab on a two-out rocket off the bat of Mitchell Herringshaw with two runners in scoring position.

Koepf finished the game 2-for-4 with a run scored and two RBIs.  His two-run single in the fifth came amid three hits, four walks and a hit batter -- all coming with two outs and after having produced just two hits in the game's first four innings.

The Falcons' three straight wins mark the team's longest win streak this season.


NOTES FROM THE NEST …

SERIES RENEWAL: Wednesday's game in Lorain marked the 13th meeting between NDC and JCU.  The two east-side neighbors have met each year since the inception of Falcon Baseball in 2005.  With Wednesday's win, Notre Dame now holds an 8-5 edge in the series. … The Falcons and Blue Streaks are slated to meet again next week.  JCU will host that game at Schweikert Field in University Heights, Ohio, on Tuesday (4 p.m. first pitch).

DOT-DOT-DOT: Alex Harms collected his first NDC RBI with an RBI single in the fifth inning.  Harms started the game at catcher. … The game marked the first walk-less game for NDC pitching since April 15, 2011.  Notre Dame pitchers have walked just 13 batters over the team's last seven games. … Freshman first baseman Taylor Neville had an RBI walk in the contest.  He leads the team with 15 RBIs this season. … Junior Pat Ross reached base twice via a hit-by-pitch.  Ross has now been plunked seven times this season and 16 times over his Falcon career.  The Gahanna, Ohio, native has a team-high .489 on-base percentage this season. … Travis Bondy earned his second save of the season by pitching a one-two-three ninth. … NDC went 2-for-4 with runners in scoring position, and the team is now batting .362 (17-for-47) in such situations over the last five games.

ON DECK: Notre Dame will continue its tour of Northeast Ohio with a doubleheader at Malone on Friday (4 p.m. start, Thurman Munson Stadium in Canton).