SOUTH EUCLID, Ohio – Following a two hour rain delay, Notre Dame College swept their doubleheader with West Liberty University, on Saturday afternoon, winning 6-1 in game one and 9-5 in game two.

The Falcons (23-28 overall, 13-19 MEC) closed out the regular season with two pivotal wins, as they try to punch their ticket to the Mountain East Conference tournament. The Falcons were 3-1 against WLU this season. With the losses, the Hilltoppers (15-31, 8-24 MEC) finished their regular season going 2-8 in their last 10 games.

Game 1

Emily Kusmits got the Falcons on the board in the first innings, with another lead-off home run. Later in the inning, Shelby Stephens and Maria Vanadia hit back-to-back singles. Erin Calhoun hit a sacrifice fly to center field, scoring Stephens.

In the bottom of the fourth inning, the Falcons increased their lead to three runs. With runners on the corners, Amy Hoover tried to steal second. The throw to second bounced away, allowing Calhoun to score from third base.

Stephens hit a sacrifice fly in the fifth inning, putting NDC up 4-0 over West Liberty. In the bottom of the sixth inning, with runners on second and third base and two outs, Halli Swiger knocked a two run double to left center field.

The only Hilltoppers run came in the top of the seventh inning. Samantha Kilbane singled to right field, scoring Kylee Ensign.

For Notre Dame, Kusmits had three hits and scored twice. Calhoun had two hits in the game. Taylor Olson (14-13) was the winning pitcher as she went seven innings, allowing only one run.

For West Liberty, Marley Thompson (1-5) was the first of three pitchers for the Hilltoppers. She allowed four runs on seven hits and picked up the loss. Kelsi Johnson had two hits.

Game 2

Taylor Olson struggled in game two for the Falcons as she lasted only four batters. The Hilltoppers started the game with a single, a sacrifice bunt, an RBI single and a fielder's choice that allowed everyone to reach base. Emily Kusmits then took over in the pitcher's circle. West Liberty's Morgan Vickless hit an RBI single, followed by Damia Mogielski scoring on a double steal, giving the Toppers a 3-0 lead after the top of the first inning.

The Falcons scored twice in the bottom of the first inning. Kusmits doubled to right center and moved to third on a bunt single by Sarah Depp. While on the bases, Depp was caught stealing, but Kusmits was able to reach home plate. Three batters later, Erin Calhoun hit an RBI double to cut the Falcons' deficit to one run.

NDC took their first lead of the game in the third inning with five runs. Maria Vanadia led off the inning with a double and two batters later, Amy Hoover hit an RBI single. Hoover scored, later in the inning, on a wild pitch. With runners on first and third, Halli Swiger roped an RBI single to right. Kusmits hit an RBI single before Depp reached on a fielder's choice, scoring another run, putting Notre Dame up, 7-3.

Notre Dame put two more runs on the board, adding one in the fifth inning on a sacrifice fly and a run in the sixth inning on a Swiger RBI single.

West Liberty tried to mount a comeback with two runs in the seventh inning. Kelsi Johnson hit an RBI single and then Kylee Ensign hit an RBI single to center field. The Hilltoppers stranded runners on first and third base.

Emily Kusmits (8-9) went 6.2 innings in relief and earned the win, allowing only two runs. She also had a very good day at the plate, with three hits in game two and six hits in the doubleheader. Swiger also had three hits. Nicole Luciano had two hits.

West Liberty had four hitters with two hits in the game. Linda Hall (1-9), who was the second of four pitchers for West Liberty, was the losing pitcher, after she went two innings, allowing three runs.

The Falcons currently sit in third place in the MEC North Division and will have to wait until Sunday's games around the conference become final to find out if they are heading to the tournament.