AVON, Ohio - The Notre Dame College baseball team recorded 23 hits in a doubleheader against Wheeling Jesuit on Sunday. The Falcons split their games with the Cardinals despite recording a season-high single-day total.
In game one, Wheeling Jesuit scored five runs in the first three innings to give themselves enough of a lead to eventually win 5-4. NDC attempted to comeback after a three-run double from
TJ Lett in the third inning to close it within two, but fell short.
Austin Barnhart drove in the final run of the game on a single up the middle.
Barnhart,
Matt Seekins and
Adam Purdy each recorded two hits in game one. In game two, six different Falcon players recorded two or more hits to total 14 in the 7-1 victory.
"They've been doing this all season," said head coach
Len Barker on his team rebounding after the game one loss. "They never give up after losses and today they came out in game two ready to go."
The Cardinals were first on the board after scoring in the top of the third inning, but the Falcons tied it up when it was their turn in the third. It was all down hill from their as NDC scored the final six runs of the game.
The first four runs scored by Notre Dame in the third and fifth innings were done so with two outs on the board. It has been a theme from NDC coaches this season saying that they need more clutch hitting, which is what they got today.
"We've had some tough times this season, but today we saw that guys really wanted to be in the box in those situations and get hits," Lett, the senior outfielder said. "It was a good weekend, winning three out the four games and really gave this young team some confidence in seeing what they can do."
On the mound,
Jeff Stover (3-0) remained undefeated on the season going eight innings while allowing just four hits and striking out four batters.
"He's been consistent all year," Barker said. "He throws strikes and keeps it in the zone, which is why he's able to win. He knows he can rely on the defense to make plays and then gets strikeouts when he needs them."
Stover leads the Falcons this season with a 1.23 ERA in seven game appearances.
Notre Dame will travel to Shepherd on Saturday and Sunday, April 29-30 to play a four game series in Shepherdstown, W.Va. The games on both days are scheduled to begin at 1 and 3:30 p.m.
