This week: Notre Dame travels to Wheeling Jesuit this weekend for a four-game series. The two doubleheaders are to be played Saturday, April 21, at 12 and 2 p.m. and Sunday, April 22, at 1 and 3 p.m.

Records: The Falcons are 11-25, 9-11 MEC after splitting four games against Fairmont State last weekend. The Cardinals are 4-24, 3-17 MEC and are on an eight-game skid.

Coaches Corner: Len Barker is in his seventh season as the head coach at Notre Dame. Barker is 139-172-1, 82-65 MEC at the helm of the Falcons' program. Dan Abbenante is in his first season at the helm of the Wheeling Jesuit Program. Abbenante served as the assistant coach for the Cardinals during the 2015 and 2016 seasons.

Rankings: Neither team was ranked in the April 18 National College Baseball Writers' Association Poll.

Series History: Notre Dame is 11-7 against Wheeling Jesuit in a series dating back to 2012. The Falcons won three out of their four games last season at home, but lost three of four the last time they played in Wheeling in 2016.

MEC Playoff Watch: The Falcons are currently 9-11 in the MEC, just two games behind Fairmont State in the North Division. FSU is third in the standings with an 11-9 record, following West Liberty (12-8) in second and Shepherd in first (16-4). The top three teams in each division will earn a spot in the Mountain East Conference Playoffs. Fairmont State matches up against Urbana this weekend while West Liberty and Shepherd play each other.

Noting the Falcons: Notre Dame has done well in four-game series so far this season, winning three at West Liberty and splitting with Fairmont State last weekend. In between these series, the Falcons have played top-ranked Mercyhurst and battled with the Lakers. On the road, the team lost a close 9-8 game on April 10 and a week later, NDC lost 15-7. Against one of the best pitching staffs in the region, the Falcons were able to score at least seven runs in both games. No other team has scored that many against the Lakers twice this season and in 30 games Mercyhurst has allowed seven or more runs only four other times. With this momentum on offense, the Falcons should be able to score this weekend against the Cardinals, who rank second to last in team ERA at 7.92.

Noting the Cardinals: Wheeling Jesuit has struggled on both sides of the game this season as the rank last in the conference in batting average (.204) and second to last in pitching ERA (7.92). Zach Blumling leads WJU in batting average in conference play this season with a mark of .291. Overall this season, Blumling has a .257 average, but has been able to record 16 hits in 55 at bats in MEC games. Relief pitcher Nick Luciano has also performed better in conference play this season with 10 appearances and one start. The sophomore is 1-3 with a 3.98 ERA in MEC games this season and holds a 4.35 ERA overall.