Box Score 1 | Box Score 2
SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. -- The Notre Dame Falcons came out on the wrong end of a pair of close games on Wednesday afternoon, falling to Slippery Rock, 3-2, and 6-5. 

The sweep snapped Notre Dame's (15-22) season high, five game win streak, while the victories for the Rock (24-14) put them on a three game winning streak.  Slippery Rock entered the game as the eighth ranked team in the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association's Division II Atlantic Region.

Game One

Notre Dame took an early advantage with single runs in the first two innings of the contest. Jon Koepf stroked a one out single in the top of the first inning, and eventually came around to score the game's first run on Kevin Bernay's base hit to right field. An inning later, Brennan Singleton reached on a one-out single to left, and scored later in the inning on an error to give the Falcons a 2-0 lead. 

Slippery Rock struck for three in the third to take the lead.  Will Kengor tied the game when he smashed a two-run double to left, and he score the go ahead run just two batters later when John Shaffer belted a single to right field.

The Falcons made things interesting in the top of the seventh inning, as they had the potential tying and go-ahead runs in scoring position when the game ended.  Koepf reached on a bunt base hit, and made his way to third later in the inning on Bernay's second single of the game.  Bernay then stole second, but SRU's John Kovalik was able to retire Shane DeFranco to end the threat and preserve the victory.

Zach Gresch (2-3) pitched well, despite taking the loss.  He went the distance, tossing six strong innings and allowed three runs on six hits with a walk and a strikeout. The Falcons doubled Slippery Rock in the hit column, 12-6, and four players hit safely multiple times, including Koepf and Bernay who produced three hits each.

Game Two

Just like game one, the Falcons got on the board first.  Jarlys Mejia started the game with a walk and made his way to third on a single from Jesse Bartle.  Bernay then delivered his fourth hit of the day, a run scoring single through the left side to give NDC the lead. DeFranco followed with a sacrifice fly to score Bartle. 

Slippery Rock tied the game with a couple of runs in the bottom of the second inning, before NDC took the lead in the top of the fourth inning, when Pat Ross scored on Bryan Blondeaux's base hit.  The Rock plated two more runs to take the lead in the fifth inning, before NDC tied it up in the seventh, on Bartle's sacrifice fly which scored Blondeaux. 

In the eighth, DeFranco belted a solo homer to left, giving NDC the momentum and the lead.  However, it was taken away in the next half inning, as two costly errors haunted the Falcons.  There were to runners on when Graeme Zaparzynski stroked a single through the left side of the infield, the ball was booted in left, which allowed both runs to score.
Tyler DeCrapio was effective through seven innings, allowing just four runs, three earned on 12 hits, but didn't factor into the decision.  Eric Napoli (0-2) was tagged with the loss after allowing both unearned runs in the eighth. 

Bernay had a big day for the Falcons, going 4-for-8 with a pair of runs batted in.  Koepf was also instrumental at the top of the order going 3-for-5, while Ross and Mejia each hit safely three times as well.  

The Falcons are in action again on Monday, April 22, as they hit the road for a single game against Hillsdale (Mich.).  The first pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m.