Box Score 1 | Box Score 2
WISE, Va. -- The Notre Dame College softball team opened a three-day, six-game, Mountain East Conference road trip on as they visited the host University of Virginia-Wise Cavaliers on Sunday afternoon. The Falcons used a seven-run inning to win game one 7-2 before falling 3-1 in game two, splitting the doubleheader with the Cavaliers.

GAME ONE
Notre Dame 7, Virginia-Wise 2

The first game between the Falcons and Cavaliers began as a pitchers duel, featuring UVA-Wise's Kellie Waycaster and NDC's Ashley Pokraka. 

Pokraka mowed through the Cavaliers lineup in the first inning, retiring the side in order. In the second inning, it was more of the same as Pokraka again stifled the Cavaliers.

The Cavaliers earned their first in the bottom of the third inning, but that was all as Pokraka again held UVA-Wise scoreless. The fourth inning went scoreless as well before the tides turned in the fifth inning in favor of the Falcons. 

In the top of the fifth inning, Mackenzie Wallace reached base via error to lead off the inning. Kayla Sidorski then worked a walk, placing two runners on and no outs for the Falcons. With a chance to give NDC the lead, Anna Myers capitalized with a single to left field, scoring Wallace and getting the Falcons on the scoreboard.

But the rally wasn't done there.

Nicole Spuhler was hit by a pitch to load the bases for NDC, bringing Sarah Depp to the plate. With the Falcons holding a narrow 1-0 lead, Depp cleared the bases with a triple, scoring three runs and pushing NDC's lead to 4-0. Depp then scored from third base on a wild pitch, making her stay on the base paths short but impactful.

With NDC leading 5-0 after Depp scored, Tayler Graver walked and Maria Vanadia singled to keep the offense flowing. Kelsey Coleman ripped an RBI single to push the lead to 6-0, and Wallace hit an RBI single as well in her second at-bat of the inning.

When all the dust settled, the Falcons had scored seven runs in the fifth inning, taking a commanding 7-0 lead over UVA-Wise.

From there, Pokraka continued what may have been her most impressive performance of the season. Pokraka pitched a complete game, allowing just two earned runs while striking out seven and walking just one.

Behind a strong performance from Pokraka and an explosive fifth innings, the Falcons beat the Cavaliers 7-2.

GAME TWO
Virginia-Wise 3, Notre Dame 1

While the Falcons scored early in game two, they didn't score as often, leading to a low-scoring affair. 

Kelsey Coleman wasted no time in leading off the game with a triple. With one out, Kayla Sidorski grounded out to second base, but Coleman was able to score in the process to give NDC the early 1-0 lead.

However, the lead didn't last for long as the Cavaliers used a three-run second inning to take a 3-1 lead after two innings.

After Ashley Pokraka came on to pitch with one out in the second inning, she finished out the game and turned in another dominant performance.

Pokraka pitched 4 2/3 innings, allowing just one hit while striking out six and walking one. For the day, Pokraka finished with nine strikeouts in 11 2/3 innings pitched, allowing just two earned runs in the process.

However, the Falcons offense couldn't find the same spark in game two as they did in game one, leading to a 3-1 loss to the Cavaliers.

The Falcons will return to action on Monday, March 30 on the road at Concord University for a Mountain East Conference doubleheader. Game one is scheduled to begin at 1 p.m.