SOUTH EUCLID, Ohio – After struggling to score runs in the 3-1 game one loss of their double-header with Urbana University, the Falcons' offense exploded for a 10-0 victory in game two, at Normandy Field, on Wednesday afternoon.
The Falcons (11-14 overall, 3-7 MEC) have split their last two double-headers. Theyscored 10 runs for the first time since March 6 vs. Felician University. The Blue Knights (8-10, 5-5 MEC) are now 3-3 in their last six games, and snapped a two game losing streak with their game one win.
Game One
Urbana put two runs on the scoreboard in the first inning. Courtney Stewart and Riley Curtis had back-to-back singles to start the game. With one out Caitlyn Stoner grounded out to second base, allowing Stewart to score. Curtis then scored on a passed ball.
In the fifth inning, Urbana had runners on second and third base, with one out. Mykee Holtz singled to left field, allowing Margo Jackson to score from third.
Emily Kusmits then went to the pitching circle and got the final two outs, stranding runners on second and third base.
NDC's only run of the game came in the bottom of the sixth inning.
Samantha Saalfrank, who came on as a pinch-hitter earlier in the game, doubled to lead off the inning. She then moved to third before
Sarah Depp came through with a bunt single.
Kusmits and Depp both had two hits for NDC.
Taylor Olson (6-6) was the starting pitcher and picked up the loss, going 4.1 innings allowing three runs, two earned, on seven hits. Kusmits went 2.2 scoreless innings. The Falcons defense committed five errors.
Carly Allen (4-5) picked up the win, going seven innings, giving up only one run. Stewart went 3-for-4, while Curtis and Bailee Faulkner both had two hits.
Game Two
Notre Dame pulled away from the Blue Knights early in the second game of the double-header. The Falcons found multiple ways to score in the first inning, when they put five on the board. With bases loaded and one out,
Erin Calhoun reached on an error to the shortstop, Caitlyn Stoner, allowing
Emily Kusmits to score.
Amy Hoover then singled to score
Sarah Depp before
Nicole Luciano and Calhoun scored on two separate wild pitches. An RBI single by
Halli Swiger capped the five run inning.
In the bottom of the second inning, the Falcons scored three more runs on a single by
Erin Calhoun and two more errors by the Urbana defense. NDC led 8-0 after two innings.
The Falcons made sure the game was out of reach in the fourth inning by adding two more runs.
Perris Stevens led off with a solo home run, her second of the season, to left field. Later in the inning, with bases loaded, Depp struck out, but a wild pitch on strike three allowed another run to cross home plate.
Every hitter in the Falcons lineup had, at least, one base hit. Kusmits, Depp and Luciano all had two hits at the top of the order. Calhoun, Hoover and Swiger all had two RBI in the game.
Taylor Olson (7-6) picked up the win in game two as she went five, scoreless innings.
The Blue Knights offense only accumulated six hits but the defense committed three timely errors. Courtney Stewart (4-5) started in the pitching circle and then came in for relief of Carly Allen. Overall, she pitched three innings, allowing seven runs, six earned, on eight hits and was saddled with the loss. Allen went an inning of relief, and surrendered three runs, two earned.
Following the two games, Falcons' head coach
Amy Kyler said, "Hits have been hard to come by and teams slump, but staying positive is the only way to work out of it."
The Falcons will stay at home to host West Virginia Wesleyan College on Saturday, April 1. The first game of the double-header is scheduled to begin at 1 p.m.
