SOUTH EUCLID, Ohio – After falling to West Liberty University in game one, 6-1, Notre Dame College used consistent hitting and took advantage of a few mistakes to win game two, 7-2, on Saturday afternoon.

West Liberty (30-17, 20-8 MEC) had two runs come home in the top of the first inning of game one, on an RBI double by Sydney Bennington and a throwing error on steal attempt. In the bottom half of the inning, sophomore Brenna Lorek doubled to right center field. Sophomore McKenzie Zigmont singled to center field, plating the Falcons' first run, but ended the inning trying to reach second base.

The score remained 2-1 until the fifth inning. Kaitlyn Stress singled to start the Hilltopper frame and the next hitter, Allie Cook, knocked an RBI double to right center. West Liberty scored two more runs in the sixth inning on two singles. Anna Paterson then doubled in the seventh inning, plating the sixth run of the game, putting WLU on top, 6-1.

Cook and Kate Meloun each had two hits at the top of the West Liberty order. Paterson added three hits and two RBI. In the pitcher's circle, Paterson limited NDC to one run on three hits.

For the Falcons, Zigmont threw a complete game in the loss and helped herself at the plate with two of the Falcons' three hits.

A strong showing for the Notre Dame (21-31, 9-21 MEC) offense in the second game led to seven runs on seven hits, scoring in five of the six innings. It all began in the bottom of the first inning, when Shelby Stephens put the exclamation mark on her senior day with a home run to left field. She now has six on the season, which is a career-high.

In the bottom of the first inning, West Liberty tied the game. With runners on second and third, Kelly Mullins laid down a sacrifice bunt and the attempt to get the runner at home was late. But that would be as close as West Liberty would get.

Two runners were in scoring position for NDC in the second inning when West Liberty committed their first costly error of the day. The ball was popped in the air on the right side of the infield off the bat of freshman Mikaela Fording. The ball dropped, allowing two runs to score.

Down 3-1, the Hilltoppers started a rally in the third inning. A double and two singles gave WLU a run and put them in position to tie or take the lead with no outs. However, junior Taylor Olson shut down the opportunity, getting a strikeout, a fly out and a ground out.

In bottom of the third inning, with Stephens on third base, another pop up was dropped in the middle of the infield, scoring the run. The Falcons then took a 5-2 lead in the fourth inning when freshman Rhianna Weall homered to left field.

Then, in the sixth inning, senior Samantha Flowers recorded an RBI with a groundout and Lorek grabbed an RBI after she singled to left field.

For NDC, Weall, Lorek, Stephens and Zigmont all had a hit as they represented the top and middle of the NDC order. The top three hitters each had an RBI. In the circle, Olson (10-16) allowed just two runs over seven innings, picking up the win.

"I'm so grateful to have these seniors this year," said Head Coach Kelsey Stopp. "Their dedication to this team is something irreplaceable. Excited to finish strong with them and to watch the seniors lead our team through the rest of the season."

The Falcons finish up the 2019 home portion of their schedule winning two more games on Normandy Field than they did in 2018.

The Falcons will travel to Glenville State College tomorrow for a double-header. The games were originally to be played in March, but were postponed.