SOUTH EUCLID, Ohio – Notre Dame College got a big boost with an Amy Hoover walk-off solo homer, giving them a 4-3 win over Fairmont State University in game one, but FSU responded in game two, winning, 4-1, on Saturday afternoon.

The Falcons of Notre Dame (10-13 overall, 2-6 MEC) ended their four game losing streak with the win in game one. The Fighting Falcons of Fairmont State (9-17, 2-6 MEC) snapped their six game losing streak with a victory in game two of the double-header.

Game 1

The Fighting Flacons scored their first run in the first inning. Samantha Hoban reached second base on an error by Notre Dame's center fielder, Amy Hoover. Addie Fullen would then plate the run with a single to right field.

And in the second inning, with runners on second and third, Jenny Stubbs hit an RBI single to right field, putting FSU up, 2-0.

NDC got their first run in a non-traditional way, as Rachel Bias threw an illegal pitch for Fairmont State, with Erin Calhoun at the plate. Maria Vanadia, who was on third, and Shelby Stephens, who was on second, both advanced one base on the call.

NDC took their first lead in the fifth inning, when Stephens doubled with two outs and the next batter, Emily Kusmits, hit her third home run of the season, giving the Falcons a 3-2 lead.

Fairmont responded quickly in the top of the sixth inning. With two outs, the Fighting Falcons went to work as Whitley Mongan doubled and then Samantha Hoban tied the game up with an RBI single.

In the bottom of the seventh inning, with two outs and nobody on base, Hoover slammed her first home run of the season over the center field fence, to give the Falcons the victory.

After the game, Hoover said, "I was thinking, 'I want to hit the ball as hard as I can, because a single won't get it done.' The pitch that I got was fat; it was right down the middle."

Stephens and Hoover had two hits, each, for Notre Dame. Taylor Olson (6-5) went the distance in the pitching circle, allowing only one earned run and striking out nine batters to get the win.

For Fairmont State, Fullen had three hits and Abby Burgess had two hits. The starting pitcher, Bias (5-9) picked up the loss, going 6.2 innings, allowing four runs on nine hits.

Game 2

As was the case in game one, Fairmont State scored in the first inning. With bases loaded, Abby Burgess knocked in two runs with a single to center field.

Notre Dame had bases loaded in the bottom of the first inning after Maria Vanadia walked. Shelby Stephens then hit an RBI groundout, scoring Sarah Depp from third, to make it a one run game.

FSU added on in the second inning, as Taylor Wells led off with a single and then stole second base. Jenny Stubbs singled center, moving the runner to third. She would steal second base, as well. Whitley Mongan then hit a fielder's choice to the shortstop, Halli Swiger, who picked the ball up and did not have a play. After the next two batters flew out to center field, Addie Fullen had a two-run single to center. The Fighting Falcons increased their lead to three runs, 4-1.

Notre Dame had only two runners reach scoring position after the first inning.

NDC used three pitchers in the game. Rachelle Miller (1-5) was given the loss after she started, and pitched one inning and to two batters in the second inning. Miller allowed four runs on four hits. Emily Kusmits went 4.2 innings in relief, and did not allow a run. Taylor Olson pitched 1.1 scoreless innings, in game two.

For Fairmont State, Fullen and Burgess both had two hits and two RBI. Hannah Absalom (3-6) was the winning pitcher, going seven innings, allowing one unearned run.

Head coach Amy Kyler, after the game, said, "We do this every year, we start getting into our stride now and we want to peak at the right time. We have a young squad so it's tough right now, but we'll get there."

The Falcons will play a home double-header against Urbana University, on March 29. First pitch for game one is scheduled for 3 p.m.