Clermont, Fla. – The game went into extra innings, tied at two, but the Notre Dame Falcons scored five runs in the ninth inning to beat the St. Joseph's College Pumas, 7-3, on Sunday afternoon.

The Falcons (1-2) were able to get their first win of the season and the number of hits they had in the game equaled the number of hits they had in the first two games. The Pumas (1-7) fall in their first game on their Florida trip.

The game was scoreless until the top of the third inning. Amy Hoover led off with a single and moved over to second on a sacrifice bunt by Nicole Paolucci. Halli Swiger was then hit by a pitch and Nicole Luciano was then walked to load the bases. Back-to-back RBI singles by Shelby Stephens and Emily Kusmits gave the Falcons a 2-0 lead.

In the bottom of the third inning, the Pumas Briana Wagner doubled to score Taylor Mendenhall. Two batters later, Jordan Schneider came up with an RBI single to right field, tying the game.

The game went into extra innings and with the international rules in place, Rishauntia Belgon was placed on second base to start the ninth inning.  A groundout moved Belgon to third base. Brittany Kirwin singled to plate Belgon and then singled to move Kirwin to third base. An error and a walk allowed a run to score, putting the Falcons up by two runs. Luciano and Stephens both had doubles to cap the five run inning.

Luciano and Stephens both had two hits and two RBI and a double, while Hoover and Kusmits also each had two hits for the Falcons. Taylor Olson started the game and went three innings, allowing two runs. Emily Kusmits (1-0) picked up the win, going six innings, allowing seven hits and only one, unearned run.

For St. Joseph's College, Amanda Melzoni went 5-for-5 with an RBI. Starting pitcher, Sara Demuth (0-3) was given the loss as she went nine innings, seven runs, five earned, and 11 hits.

The Falcons will play Wayne State College at 3:30 p.m. in Clermont, Fla.