SOUTH EUCLID, Ohio – Notre Dame College struggled to get on the scoreboard in game one, falling 13-1 to Gannon University in five innings and then came up just short in game two by a score of 5-3, on Tuesday afternoon.

In game one, Gannon (16-9) hit four homers in the second inning and went ahead 9-0. Maria Taliani knocked in four runs with two, two-run home runs.

The Falcons (10-23) scored their only run in the bottom of the fifth inning. With a runner on second base, senior Amy Hoover hit a ball that was misplayed by second baseman Taylor Wilp. Junior Nicole Luciano came around to score.

The Golden Knights' Kellyn Perich (3-0) earned the win after pitching a complete game, allowing one, unearned run on just three hits. Sarah Ingerick went 2-for-3 with five RBI and Taliani was 3-for-3 with three runs scored and four RBI.

In game two, GU scored the first run of the game in the second inning, but NDC responded in the fourth  when sophomore Ariel Linberger plated senior Myranda Rowland from third base with a single up the middle.

Linberger struck again in the bottom of the sixth inning when she gave the Falcons their first lead of the day, hitting a two-run home run to straight away center field. NDC was on top, 3-1.

In the top of the seventh inning, with two outs and a runner on second base, Ingerick singled and Taliani walked to load the bases. Lyndsey Lakatos pinch-hit and hit a grand slam to left field, putting Gannon up 5-3.

Both Linberger and Rowland had two hits for Notre Dame.

For Gannon, Ingerick had two hits. Madi Beining (8-4) earned the win after going seven innings, allowing three runs and striking out three hitters. The Golden Knights hit six home runs over the two games.

The Falcons will travel to Institute, W.Va. on April 14 to play West Virginia State University. The double-header is scheduled to begin at 1 p.m.