Box Score 1 | Box Score 2
SOUTH EUCLID, Ohio -- Notre Dame's oft-delayed 2012 opener finally got played on Saturday, and for the Falcons the wait was worth it as NDC managed to beat the Cedarville Lady Jackets in both ends of a doubleheader.

The Falcons (7-15) rallied in the nightcap to earn the sweep over a Cedarville (24-13) squad which had won seven in a row heading into the twin bill on College Road.  The games -- in sunshine and 50-degree temperatures -- marked NDC's first at home after cancellations of scheduled doubleheaders on March 17 and March 24.

Game One
Sophomore left-hander Christine Camp started the opener for NDC. Camp was staked to a 1-0 lead when Megan Turner drew and then came around to score on a Kelsey Coleman RBI double in the first.  Notre Dame tacked on a run in the third when Michelle Dykes homered to left.

The Lady Jackets evened the score at 2-2 with a pair of runs in the top of the fourth.  That that fourth frame, Cedarville got to Camp for three hits and a walk.  Freshman Ashley Hall came in to relieve Camp with two outs in the inning.  Camp allowed five hits and a walk over her 3-2/3 innings; she struck out one.

The Falcons countered CU's two runs with two of their own in the bottom of the fourth.  NDC scored a fifth run when Dykes tripled and came around to score on a Coleman sacrifice fly in the fifth.

Hall got the first two outs in the seventh before Cedarville started a rally.  The Lady Jackets got a single and then a double and then a two-run double by left fielder Shelby Young, who went 3-for-4 in the game.  Hall then struck out Kelsey Warrington with Young in scoring position, preserving the 5-4 victory.

Game Two
Cedarville scored a lone run in the first inning of game two.  And that solo marker would nearly hold up the whole way.  Lady Jacket starter Missy Murphy allowed just two hits in shutting out the Falcons through the first five innings.  Then, still trailing 1-0, Notre Dame got to Murphy for six runs in the bottom of the sixth.

NDC had five hits in its big rally.  Cedarville's defense fell apart, with the Lady Jackets committing three errors which in turn led to three unearned runs among the six.

Hall came on to pitch the seventh after Ashley Harbarger (four innings, one unearned run) and Allysa Lancaster (two scoreless innings) did yeoman's work in keeping NDC in the game through the sixth.  CU loaded the bases against Hall but managed just one unearned run in their final at-bat.

Megan Turner and Kelsey Coleman each had a pair of hits in the second game.  Coleman has now hit safely in 13 of Notre Dame's last 14 games.

The Falcons went a combined 5-for-14 with runners in scoring position over the two games against Cedarville, which had won 14 of its previous 15 games.


NOTES FROM THE NEST …

THE SERIES WITH CEDARVILLE: Notre Dame is now 10-11 in 21 all-time meetings with the Lady Jackets.  After going 1-11 against CU in the first 12 games of the series, NDC has now won none straight. … The Falcons are 5-1 against the Lady Jackets in South Euclid.

BACK ON THE COLLEGE ROAD: With its 5-4 win in the opener, NDC is now 12-2 over its last 14 home openers.  The Falcons went 11-3 at home last season and are 81-18 (.818) on College Road since 2006.

BACK WITH A BIG STICK: Senior outfielder Michelle Dykes' homer in game one marked the 14th of her career; it was her first this season.  The Youngstown, Ohio, native hit .319 (30-for-94) with four round-trippers in 2011.  Saturday's contests marked just her fourth and fifth games this season. … Notre Dame is batting .367 (11-for-30) with runners in scoring position over it last three contests.

ON DECK: Notre Dame's next games are scheduled for Saturday, April 14, when the Falcons host Point Park (Pa.) in another twin bill at Campus Field (first pitch 1 p.m.).