CLERMONT, Fla. – The Notre Dame Falcons lost to the Northern State University Wolves, 2-1, in game one of their double-header and fell to the Northwood University Timberwolves, 9-1 in game two, on Tuesday.
Game 1
The Falcons (4-4 overall) have lost to Northern State twice this season, while the Wolves (8-3 overall) are now on a five game winning streak.
NDC scored the first run of the contest in the fourth inning.
Rachelle Miller had the third hit of the game for the Falcons, when she hit an infield single. Then Northern State's pitcher Rachel Albright walked three consecutive batters.
Shelby Stephens was issued the walk that allowed Miller to score the only run of the game for the Falcons.
NSU came back late with a run in each of the final two innings. In the sixth, the Wolves were able to push a the tying run across the plate when a sacrifice bunt by Shayla Steinley allowed Mackenzie Thielen to come around to score from second base. Steinley was out on the play and Lauren Kunz, who started the play at first base, was out trying to reach third base.
In the seventh inning, Albright walked and Kennady Thompson hit a walk-off double to right-center.
For the Falcons,
Nicole Luciano went 2-for-2 and walked twice. Starting pitcher,
Emily Kusmits (2-1), went 6.1 innings, picking up the loss while giving up only two runs on three hits.
Albright (3-0) was the starting pitcher for the Wolves and went seven innings, allowing the lone run and getting the win.
Game 2
Notre Dame (4-5) lost both games on Tuesday, and the Timberwolves (7-7) were able to snap a three game losing streak with the victory.
NU scored all nine of their runs in the first three innings. A two run single by Courtney Wensley gave the Timberwolves a quick 2-0 lead.
Notre Dame cut the lead in half in the bottom of the first inning when
Nicole Luciano singled then moved to second on a sacrifice bunt and went to third on a groundout. Luciano scored on
Maria Vanadia's RBI single.
However, the Timberwolves put five on the board in the second inning. Karli Godlewski and Laura Walton both singled to start the inning. Godlewski scored on an error by the Falcons starting pitcher,
Taylor Olson. Walton then tagged up and scored on a sacrifice fly by Danielle Bartodziej. An RBI double and a two-run homer gave Northwood three more runs in the inning, going up 7-1.
Northwood pushed the lead to eight runs in the third inning. Godlewski scored on an error and Walton scored on a single to left field by Andria Gietl.
Vanadia went 2-for-2 for the Falcons. Olson (2-2) was given the loss as she only went 1.2 innings in the pitching circle, allowing seven runs on seven hits.
The Timberwolves had three hitters who had two hits and Godlewski went 3-for-3. Makenzie Norton (1-1) was the starting pitcher and threw five innings of one run ball.
The Falcons will take on Nyack College at 9 a.m. and Cedarville University at 11:30 a.m., on March 8. Both games will be played in Clermont, Fla.
