Box Score 1 | Box Score 2
AVON, Ohio -- The Notre Dame Falcons won a series against a nationally ranked opponent for the second time this season, as they swept a Saturday double header against No. 16 Mercyhurst at All Pro Freight Stadium.  

The sweep for the Falcons (6-8) brought a five-game losing streak to an end, marking their second series win over a nationally ranked opponent this season. The losses for the Lakers (10-5) brought a seven game winning streak to an end.  

Game One
Josh Armbruster (2-1) went to work for the Falcons in the first game of the day, as he picked up the victory after surrendering three runs on eight hits over six innings while striking out six along the way. 

Notre Dame had gone 24 straight innings without scoring a run, but busted out of that funk in the bottom of the first inning. Danny Beaver began the inning with base hit, and made his way to second after a TJ Lett groundout, before scoring on Ross Barker's single through the left side of the infield. 

The game was tied 1-1, before the Lakers scored in the top of the third to take a 2-1 advantage, but NDC responded with four in the bottom of the inning, and scored all of their runs with two outs. Lett reached on a one out single, and scored the game tying run on Julio Rosales's RBI double to left. After Hank Beasore walked, Nick Ely smacked a RBI single through the left side to give the Falcons a 2-1 lead. Jake Kirsh followed with a run scoring double down the left field line, and Austin Barnhart capped the rally with a RBI single to right. 

Mercyhurst brought in another run in the top of the fourth inning, but Notre Dame was able to put the game away with a pair of runs in the bottom of the fifth. Ely belted a RBI single to center, made his way to second on an error by the center fielder, then scored after another Laker error. Ely stole third, then came home on an errant throw by the catcher. 

Eight out of the starting nine reached safely at least once for the Falcons, while seven hit safely at least once. Ely led the Notre Dame offense, going 2-for-3 with a pair of runs scored and two RBIs. 

Game Two
The second game of the day featured a terrific pitcher's duel between Austin Tanfield (1-0) and Cam Knott (3-1). Hits were incredibly difficult to come by for both sides, as NDC scored the victory while recording only two hits in the contest. 

Notre Dame was held without a hit for the first three innings of the contest, but broke up Knott's no-hit bid, while taking the lead on the same play. Keifer Quick reached on a walk to start the inning, before advancing to second after a balk. Ross Barker's groundout put Quick on third, and Rosales hit a hard ground ball back to the mount that ricocheted off Knott, resulting in a run scoring single to bring Quick home, counting for the game's only run. 

Tanfield tossed five scoreless innings of three hit ball while fanning four batters to score the first win of his NDC career, while Knott took the hard luck loss, allowing just the run on two hits over five innings of work. Hank Beasore (3) worked two scoreless innings of relief for the Falcons and snagged his third save of the year. 

The Falcons are back in action again on Saturday, March 19, as they open Mountain East Conference play on the road against Charleston (WV). The first pitch in Saturday's double header is scheduled for 1 p.m.