SOUTH EUCLID, Ohio – After falling behind, a seventh inning rally by Notre Dame College was stopped short as West Virginia State University took the first game, 8-5. In game two, WVSU jumped out to the lead and won 4-0, on Tuesday afternoon.

Notre Dame (18-24, 6-14 MEC) received very good pitching, early in game one. They scored two runs in the second inning and that lead nearly stood throughout the entire game. To start the second inning, sophomore Mackenzie Zigmont, who was the starting pitcher, singled and senior Halli Swiger walked. Later in the inning, freshman Mikaela Fording hit a two out, two-run single up the middle of the infield.

In the top of the seventh inning, West Virginia State's first run crossed the plate. The first four hitters reached with a base hit or a walk, which included an RBI single by Madison Rafuson and a two-run single by Brookelyn Hale, which gave the Yellow Jackets (25-10, 18-6 MEC) a 3-2 lead. A bases loaded walk and a grand slam gave WVSU an 8-2 advantage.

The Falcons did not go quietly in the bottom of the seventh. Down to their final out, junior Taylor Olson pinch-hit and hit a long home run to left field, the first of her career. The three-run homer made the score 8-5. Two more hits allowed the tying run to come to the plate, but the Falcons would not get another run.

For Notre Dame, Zigmont went 3-for-3 in the batter's box and Olson's three RBI is a season-high. Five West Virginia State hitters had two hits and Kasey Murphy's four RBI is a season-high.

Game two was a pitching battle through six innings, again. A one-out home run in the top of the fifth gave W.Va. State a 1-0 lead. Pinch-hitter Brittany Allison singled, scoring two in the seventh inning. Three hitters later, Allison stole home, while Emma Ruth stole second base.

West Virginia State's Kasey Murphy (6-2) got the win in the pitcher's circle as she faced the minimum through six innings. However, in the bottom of the seventh inning, senior Shelby Stephens singled and Zigmont reached on an error, but the Falcons did not score.

Taylor Olson (9-12) took the loss, but allowed just three earned runs over seven innings. She struck out six hitters and now has 275 in her career, moving into third place in NDC history in career strikeouts.

Notre Dame battles Concord University, in a double-header, on April 19. The first game is scheduled to begin at 1 p.m.