Box Score 1 | Box Score 2
WHEELING, W.Va -- Playing the first of two weekend doubleheaders on the road this weekend, the Falcons squared off with the host Wheeling Jesuit Cardinals in a Mountain East Conference matchup on Saturday afternoon. The Falcons narrowly lost game one in extra innings, 3-2, before picking up a 5-3 win in game two to split the doubleheader with WJU.

GAME ONE
Wheeling Jesuit 3, Notre Dame 2

Scoring remained at a standstill in game one throughout the first three innings as both pitchers stifled the opposing offense. Ashley Pokraka retired the first six Cardinals she faced before allowing two hits in the third inning, but escaped the jam and blanked WJU once again.

In the bottom of the fourth, the script stayed the same for Pokraka, who worked two quick outs to start the inning. However, WJU's Mallory Chapman hit a solo home run to give the Cardinals a narrow 1-0 lead through four innings. 

Responding in the top of the fifth, Amy Hoover reached base via error before Kelsey Coleman ripped an RBI triple to right field to tie the score, 1-1. Coleman's hit was also her fourth triple of the season, the top mark in the MEC.

Pokraka worked a scoreless fifth inning before the Falcons started a rally in the top of the sixth.

Anna Myers worked a one-out walk and Allison Smith came in to pinch run in her place. Nicole Spuhler then singled to right field, and pinch hitter Brittany Kirwin did the same to load the bases with just one out. Unfortunately, the Falcons couldn't capitalize on the situation, leaving the score still tied 1-1.

With one out in the top of the seventh and the score still tied 1-1, Kelsey Coleman came to the plate with a chance to give the Falcons the lead. And that's exactly what she did. Coleman hit a solo home run in the top of the seventh to give the Falcons a 2-1 lead, again coming up clutch for the Falcons.

However, the Cardinals used a leadoff double in the bottom of the seventh to eventually score one run in the inning, tying the game 2-2 and forcing extra innings.

The Falcons were unable to score in the top of the eighth, and the Cardinals led off the bottom of the frame with a single. A sacrifice bunt advanced the Cardinals runner to second, and a grounder to shortstop advanced the runner to third. With two outs, the Cardinals hit a walk-off single to score the runner from third and win the game in extra innings, 3-2.

GAME TWO
Notre Dame 5, Wheeling Jesuit 3

Kelsey Coleman, Mackenzie Wallace and Nicole Spuhler led the Falcons offense in game two, recording three hits a piece and combining for nine of NDC's 12 hits in the game.

Coleman and Wallace led off the first inning with back-to-back singles, creating offensive chances early. A sacrifice bunt moved both runners up one base, and a two-out double from Spuhler scored both Coleman and Wallace, giving the Falcons a 2-0 lead early in the game.

In the bottom of the first, the Cardinals responded with a pair of runs off of Ashley Hall, leaving the score tied at two after one inning.

Nicole Paolucci led off the second inning with a single, and would later score on another clutch hit from Coleman, who doubled to right-center to give NDC the 3-2 lead. 

After a rocky first inning, Hall quickly returned to form in the second inning, holding the Cardinals scoreless. However, it was one pitch from Hall in the third inning that allowed a solo home run to Angie Reddick, tying the score at three after three innings.

But the Falcons wasted no time in taking the lead back in the fourth.

After leading off the second with a single, Paolucci led off the fourth with a double to left field. Maria Vanadia then laid a sacrifice bunt to advance Paolucci to third. Coleman later came to the plate with two outs, but the Cardinals learned from their mistakes and intentionally walked her. With runners on first and third, Wallace hit a single to right field to score Paolucci and give the Falcons the lead again, 4-3, after four innings.

Wallace's RBI single would go on to be the game-winning hit as the Falcons' shut down the Cardinals offense for the remainder of the game. Hall took a strong outing into the bottom of the sixth, and finished the day having allowed just two earned runs in 5 2/3 innings pitched. 

Rachelle Miller came on in relief and recorded the final out in the sixth before getting three more outs in the seventh, leading to an eventual 5-3 win over the Cardinals.

The Falcons will next play on Sunday, April 12 on the road at West Liberty University in another MEC showdown. Game one is scheduled to begin at 1 p.m.