Box Score
WASHINGTON, Pa. -- The Notre Dame Falcons came out on the wrong end of a 4-1 decision against the Vulcans of Cal (Pa.) at Consol Energy Park on Wednesday afternoon.

For the Falcons (7-8) the loss was just their second in five non-conference tilts, while the Vulcans (9-5) have now won five in a row, and nine in their last 11 games. 

The Vulcans scored in the bottom of the first inning to land the upper hand.  Ben Carson started the inning with an infield single, and made his way to second on a sacrifice bunt. Later in the inning, David Marcus drove Carson home on a two-out double to right field. 

NDC starting pitcher Zach Gresch settled in after that first inning, as he went on to retire 13 of the next 15 batters he faced through the bottom of the fifth inning.

While Gresch settled into a groove, the Falcons tied the game in the fourth inning. Travis Smetana began the inning with a base hit down the line in left, and Danny Beaver's sacrifice bunt moved Smetana to second. Keifter Quick delivered a clutch, two-out single to left, which brought Smetana home to tie the game at 1-1.

Gresch was replaced in the home half of the sixth inning by Jay Sperry.  Sperry surrendered a lead off single to Derrik Zeroski, who then stole second base and advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt, before Marcus struck again for the Vulcans, by bringing Zeroski home on a sac fly to center.

The Vulcans went on to add a pair of insurance runs in the seventh and eighth innings.  Giovonni Morales belted a run scoring double in the bottom of the seventh to give Cal Pa. a 3-1 lead, and they added another in the eighth on Matt Peters's RBI two-bagger to left.

Notre Dame put one last threat together in the ninth inning, but couldn't cash in. Ryan Sanders began the inning with a single through the left side, and made his way to second on a passed ball. Jared Clovis stroked a single to left field, putting runners at the corner with one out, and the tying run came to the plate.  Bryan Blondeaux bounced into a game ending 5-4-3 double play to end the contest.

Sperry (0-1) took the loss for the Falcons after allowing a pair of runs, only one earned on three hits over three innings of relief.  Cory Craig (1-1) came away with the victory for the Vulcans after surrendering just a run on eight hits while fanning five through 8.1 innings of work.

Sanders and Quick paced the NDC offense, each turning in a two-hit performance, counting for half of Notre Dame's hits on the day.

The Falcons are in action again on Saturday, March 22, for their home opener, as they host Virginia-Wise at All Pro Freight Stadium in Avon, Ohio. The first pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m.