Box Score 1 | Box Score 2
NORTH CANTON, Ohio -- In a non-conference doubleheader, the Notre Dame College softball team took to the road to take on the host Walsh University Cavaliers. The Falcons dropped game one, 6-2, before dominating game two, 9-1, to split the series at Walsh.

GAME ONE
Walsh 6, Notre Dame 2

The Falcons fell behind early in game one as the Cavaliers scored three runs in the bottom of the first to take the early lead. However, Rachelle Miller rebounded in the second inning and retired the Cavaliers in order, going 1-2-3.

Maria Vanadia led off the third inning with a single up the middle, and a sacrifice fly from Amy Hoover advanced Vanadia to second. Kelsey Coleman then singled to right field to put runners on first and third for NDC - their best scoring opportunity yet. Mackenzie Wallace hit a grounder to first base which allowed Vanadia to score from third, cutting the deficit to just 3-1.

After the Falcons cut into the lead, the Cavaliers scored twice more in the bottom of the third inning to take a 5-1 lead through three innings.

Ashely Hall came on to relief pitch in the top of the fourth and immediately found her zone, retiring the side in order. 

Hall had no issues working through Walsh's lineup, finishing the game having allowed just one run in three inning of relief. However, the Falcons' offense also struggled to produce runs, leading to an eventual 6-2 loss to the Cavaliers.

GAME TWO
Notre Dame 9, Walsh 1

While the Cavaliers scored three runs in the first inning of game one, it was the Falcons who took control early in game two. 

Kelsey Coleman worked a lead-off walk and Amy Hoover singled to put two Falcons on base early. Anissa Kotoch reached base via error, loading the bases for NDC. Brittany Kirwin then hit into a fielders choice, allowing Coleman to score from third giving the Falcons their first run of the game. 

With one out, Nicole Spuhler hit a sacrifice fly to right field to score Hoover and advance Kotoch to third, making the score 2-0. Perris Stevens and Nicole Paolucci followed up with back-to-back RBI singles, and the Falcons led the Cavaliers 4-0 after the first half inning.

In the top of the second, the Falcons continued their offensive onslaught. Coleman ripped a double to center field to lead off the inning, and an error on the next play allowed Hoover to reach base and Coleman to score, pushing the lead to 5-0.

Keeping the second-inning rally going, Kotoch doubled to left field to advance Hoover to third and put two Falcons in scoring position. A sacrifice fly from Kirwin scored Hoover, and a productive groundout from Spuhler scored Kotoch as well, giving the Falcons a 7-0 lead midway through two innings.

Ashely Pokraka shut the door on Walsh in the bottom half of the second, going 1-2-3 while making quick work of the Cavaliers. After the Falcons scored twice more in the top of the third, making their lead 9-0, Pokraka again retired the Cavaliers in order in the third.

Pokraka finished the game having allowed just one run in five innings pitched, scattering three hits while striking out three. With an eight-run lead after five innings, the Falcons won the game via mercy rule, beating the Cavaliers 9-1 in game two.

The Falcons will return to action on Saturday, April 18 at home against the University of Charleston on Senior Day. Game one is scheduled for 1 p.m.