SHEPHERDSTOWN, W. Va. – Notre Dame College struggled on the road against the team leading the Mountain East Conference North Division as they were swept by Shepherd University, 4-2 and 10-4, on Saturday afternoon.

The losses for the Falcons (15-16 overall, 7-9 MEC) ends their five winning streak. They fall to 1-7 on the road. The Rams (21-10, 9-5 MEC) have now won six straight games and have won 10 of their last 12 games.

Game 1

Both teams were unable to put a run on the board, even after both teams got two hits in the first inning.

NDC put two on the board in the top of the third inning. With one out, Emily Kusmits singled and the next batter, Sarah Depp, reached on an error. Kusmits went to third on the play. Depp stole second before Nicole Luciano singled to right, scoring Kusmits. Maria Vanadia then singled up the middle to score the second run.

SU responded with one in the bottom of the second inning. With one out and runners on first and third, Bailee Jackson reached on a fielder's choice, allowing Sarah North to score.

Shepherd tied the game and took the lead in the fifth inning. Runners were on first and third when Connor Gilligan singled to right field, tying the game at 2. Later in the inning, the Rams took their first lead on a Rachel Taylor RBI single and a single by Paige Buckworth scored the third, and final, run of the inning.

For the Falcons, Kusmits had three hits in the game. In the pitcher's circle, Taylor Olson (9-7) was given the loss after she went 4.1 innings, allowing four runs on nine hits. Kusmits was the relief pitcher in game one and went 1.2 innings and did not allow a run.

The Rams' starting pitcher, Kaitlin Munda (8-6) was the winning pitcher, going seven innings, allowing two runs, one earned, while striking out five batters. Both Kaitlyn Konopka and Alexandra Witt went 3-for-4.

Game 2

The Rams scored at least one run in the first four innings. They scored a run in the bottom of the first on an RBI double by Connor Gilligan. In the bottom of the second inning, Molly Staley hit a solo home run.

Down 2-0, the Falcons scored their first run in the top of the third inning. Emily Kusmits led off with a double and advanced to third on a groundout. Maria Vandia doubled to center field, with two outs, scoring Kusmits to score.

However, SU did not wait long to respond as they put two runners on base in the bottom of the third, via a single and a walk. Gilligan came through again with an RBI single. Two batters later, following a pitching change by the Falcons, Paige Buckworth hit an RBI single to right, putting the Rams up, 4-1.

Shepherd added a run in the bottom of the fourth, but NDC tried to put together a comeback in the top of the sixth inning. Vanadia led off with a solo homer and three batters later, Perris Stevens hit a two-run bomb to left-center field. The Falcons trailed by one run, 5-4.

But the Rams put space between themselves and the Falcons with a huge, five run sixth inning. Shepherd scored five runs on six hits, including two RBI singles, an RBI double and a fielder's choice RBI in the inning.

The Falcons' starting pitcher, Kusmits (5-4), went 2.1 innings, allowing four runs on six hits and picked up the loss. Rachelle Miller came on in relief and allowed six runs, five earned, on six hits over three innings. Four NDC hitters had a multi-hit game while Vanadia had three hits and two RBI.

For the Rams, Tara Hanson (9-3) was given the win after giving up four runs over 5.1 innings. She also struck out five hitters. Lori Sturgill (2) earned the save after pitching 1.2, scoreless innings.

The Falcons travel to Fairmont, W. Va. to take on Fairmont State University, tomorrow, April 9. The double-header begins at 1 p.m.