Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

KISSIMMEE, Fla. – The Notre Dame Falcons began their 2013 season at the Rebel Spring Games on Saturday morning, and came away with a pair of losses. 

The Falcons (0-2) fell in extra innings in their first game of the day, dropping a 1-0 decision to Northern State (S.D.) in eight innings, before falling in the second contest to Quincy (Ill.), 5-3.

The Notre Dame trio of Ashley Harbarger, Ashley Hall and Mackenzie Wallace (0-2) held NSU (3-2) scoreless through the first seven innings of the contest, before Kelsey Gale roped a two out single to right field with two outs to score the game winning run in the eighth inning. 

Notre Dame had a few scoring threats, but weren't able to get any of those threats to materialize.  Kelsey Coleman, Nicole Spuhler, Jessica Cavallero and Christine Camp all recorded base hits, in a game that did not see any extra base hits for either side. 

Harbarger earned the start and kept NSU off the board over three innings, allowing just a pair of hits with a strikeout.  Hall came on in relief and surrendered a hit through three great innings of relief while fanning five in the process.  Wallace allowed just the one hit to Gale, but the run she surrendered was unearned. 

Wallace rebounded quickly, and was tested early on in the second contest.  In the top of the first inning, Quincy had the bases loaded with one out, but Wallace worked her way out of the jam to give the Falcons a chance to score first. 

NDC responded in the next half inning.  Amanda Arendt stroked a two out single to center field, scoring Kelsey Coleman on the play to give NDC the early advantage.  Kayla Sidorski reached moments later on an error, which allowed Arendt to score, giving the Falcons a 2-0 lead. 

The lead was short lived, as Quincy came right back with three in the top of the second.  Lauren Francis hit a solo homer to put Quincy on the board, and Monica Gray smashed a two out double to left field which plated a pair of runs. 

Two more runs were added by the Hawks.  Jessica Grimes belted an RBI single in the fifth inning, and they scored on an error in the sixth. 

The Falcons made things interesting at the end.  The bases were loaded with two down, when Christine Kasidonis walked to bring in a run.  However, Lauren Francis was able to bear down and strikeout Arendt during the next at bat to end the contest. 

Francis (1-4) went the distance for the Hawks, allowing just three runs, only one earned while fanning nine batter to score the victory.  Wallace took the loss for the Falcons, after surrendering three runs on four hits over two innings of work. 

The Falcons are in action again at the Rebel Spring Games on Sunday, March 3.  They will face Saginaw Valley State (Mich.) at 9 a.m., and Holy Family (Pa.) at 11 a.m.