WINTER HAVEN, Fla. – On Thursday afternoon, Notre Dame College softball started the 2020 season with two games. Over the two contests, NDC scored a combined 12 runs in the second inning, but the Falcons fell to Cedarville University by a score of 10-4 and to Davenport University, 10-9.

In the first game of the day, Cedarville put a run on the board in the first inning and scored three more runs in the top of the second.

Sophomore Mikaela Fording singled with one out in the second inning. A ground out moved her to second base, but there were two outs in the inning. That's when freshman Bria Coleman singled to right field, stole second base, and then scored on a two-run single by senior Kathryn Smith. Junior Katelyn Rheude singled in a third run, before junior Tia Rizzo and sophomore Alexi Maciejowski walked to load the bases. Junior Lexi Rehm also drew a walk to score the fourth run of the inning, tying the game.

Cedarville added one run in the top of the third, but the Falcons nearly tied the game again in the fourth inning. Rheude moved to third on a passed ball, but she did not come home to score.

The Yellow Jackets scored three runs in the sixth and added two runs in the seventh.

Fording, Coleman and Rheude all had two hits for the Falcons. Sophie Hevel went 3-for-4 at the plate with two runs scored and two RBI for Cedarville. Four other CU players had a multi-hit game.

NDC went up against Davenport in the second game of the day. After a scoreless first inning, Notre Dame went to work in the second. Senior Ariel Linberger singled to lead off the inning and junior Brenna Lorek moved her over with a sacrifice bunt. The Falcons got on the board as Smith, Fording and Rheude all hit RBI singles. Two batters later, Maciejowski singled in a run, Linberger doubled in a run and Lorek capped the eight-run inning with a two-run double to right field.

Davenport's Selene Pauley and Brooke Cowan each homered in the third inning and the Panthers tacked on another run in the fourth. Notre Dame's pitcher McKenzie Zigmont homered to center, putting the Falcons ahead 9-4.

In the bottom of the sixth inning, the Panthers scored two runs on a single and then back-to-back home runs tied the contest at nine. In the bottom of the seventh with one out, DU recorded three consecutive singles to win the game.

Linberger and Smith each had three hits while Zigmont, Fording and Rheude had two hits. Over the two games, Fording and Rheude combined for eight hits. For Davenport, the first six hitters in their lineup combined for 13 hits and 10 RBI.

Tomorrow, NDC will take on Felician University at 10 a.m. and the College of Saint Rose at 12:15 p.m.