Box Score 1 | Box Score 2
FINDLAY, Ohio -- The Notre Dame Falcons scored 17 runs on 19 hits in Wednesday afternoon's twin bill against Findlay, as they split with the Oilers, falling 16-4 in game one, before rallying to take a 13-7 decision in game two. (Gm -1 | Gm-2)

Notre Dame (5-15) received a huge game from freshman Jamie Clausen in the second contest.  The freshman from Youngstown, Ohio, drove in seven runs in a winning effort.  For Findlay (12-9) the split leaves them with losses in four out of their last five games.

The Falcons fell behind early in the opening contest, and found themselves in a 12-0 hole after three innings, falling 16-4 in five frames as the mercy rule took effect.  In game two, NDC scored six unanswered runs over the final two innings to snap a 7-7 tie, nailing down their first win since March 10.

Game One

The first contest did not turn out well for NDC.  The Falcons surrendered 16 runs on 17 hits and committed three errors in the process.   

Findlay scored four times in the first, four in the fourth, and touched home plate eight times in the home half of the third inning.  The Falcons got all four of their runs late, scoring a pair in the fourth, and again in the fifth.

Tori Allen drove in the first two runs of the contest for Findlay on a double to center field, before Emily Stewart was issued a free pass with the bases load to bring in the next run.  Jackie Messersmith ripped an RBI single to plate the final run of the inning. 

Findlay pulled away with an eight run third inning.  They recorded six hits in the big frame and capitalized on two NDC errors.  Jenna Motuza and Courtney Dywer smacked back-to-back RBI singles to plate the first two runs of the inning.  Allen then walked with the bases loaded to bring in the next run.  A fielding error by Kelsey Coleman allowed two more runs, and Brittany Dauterman capped the big inning with a two-run double. 

NDC got it's first two runs in the top of the fourth inning, as Nicole Spehar reached on a fielder's choice, which plated both Coleman and Felisha Jones.  The Oilers answered quickly with a four spot in the home half of the fourth.  Stewart, Dauterman and Kendal Moses ripped RBI singles, and Lauren Mathias walked bases loaded to bring in the final run of the inning. 

The Falcons scored twice in the top of the fifth, but it was not enough to continue the contest.  Notre Dame registered three extra base hits in the inning, which began with a two-bagger from Ashley Harbarger.  Harbarger scored the first run on Clausen's groundout, and Jones drove in the final run on triple to right-center field. 

Ashley Hall (1-8) was tagged with the loss after allowing nine runs (four earned) on 10 hits over two and a third.  Dauterman (3-0) scored the victory for Findlay, as she went the distance and allowed four runs on six knocks with five strikeouts.

Game Two

The two teams went back and forth in the second contest, which turned out to be a little sloppy, with seven errors between the two teams.    

Notre Dame took the upper hand in third inning, scoring five times on four hits.  Steph Glueck began the inning with a triple down the right field line, before Maria Ulisses was hit by a pitch.  Clausen drove them both home on a two-run double to right-center, and scored moments later after Savannah Dukich reached on Tori Allen's fielding error.  Coleman then ripped a base hit up the middle to score Dukich, and Coleman scored the final run of the inning on Nicole Schmetzer's groundout. 

In a 5-0 hole, Findlay inched closer in the bottom of the inning.  Carly Borders stroked an RBI single to left field, and Morgan Arnold was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to bring the Oilers within three (5-2). 

NDC answered with a pair of runs in the next half inning.  Clausen struck again with a run scoring double to center field, and she touched home plate later in the fourth on a wild pitch. 

Findlay battled back, and ran off five straight runs over the next two innings to tie the game.  Dauterman's sacrifice fly out to right field scored Motuza in the fourth inning, before the Oilers struck for four in the fifth.  Lindsay Hamilton scored on Coleman's throwing error, before Allen Smashed a two-run triple to right field.  Dauterman capped the four run rally with a game tying, RBI single. 

Notre Dame responded in a big way, getting three runs on four hits in the sixth inning to reclaim the lead.  Clausen belted a base hit up the middle to score Glueck again, and Megan Turner delivered a clutch, two-out, two run double to right-center field. 

The Falcons put the game out of reach in the seventh inning, when Clausen put an exclamation mark on her monster game, as she tattooed Grace Ammons's (4-3) 3-0 pitch, sending it over the wall, for a three-run bomb, her first of the season.

Harbarger started the game and surrendered seven runs (one earned) on 10 hits over four and two-thirds, with a trio of strikeouts, but it was Allysa Lancaster (1-0) who scored the victory.  Lancaster provided two and a third scoreless innings of two hit relief.   Ammons suffered the loss after allowing all 13 runs on 13 hits with eight strikeouts.  

Clausen's incredible afternoon resulted in a 4-for-7 performance, with four runs scored and eight runs batted in.  Coleman went 4-for-7 in the twin bill as well with a pair of runs scored and an RBI as well.  Jones went 2-for-3 in game one, but did not play in game two, and has now reached in 12 straight games.  Glueck set the table for NDC in game two, going 3-for-5 with four runs scored. 

The Falcons will return to action on Tues., April 3, when they host Mount Vernon in their 2012 home opener.  The first pitch at Campus Field is scheduled for 3 p.m.   

NOTES FROM THE NEST …

FLAG CITY FACEOFF: Wednesday's twin bill marked the sixth and seventh meetings between the two institutions.  It was also the first meeting between the two in Findlay, since 1998.  The Oilers hold a 4-3 edge over the Falcons all time.  Prior to Wednesday, the two teams last met at Campus Field, back on March, 20, 2010.         

UNDER THE WEATHER: While the Falcons successfully completed 16 games in nine days on their spring trip down south, they have played just four games since.  NDC has played just four times since March 10, and have had their home opener rained out twice. Their next five games on the schedule are home games.