CENTRAL, S.C. – The bats were ready to go on day one of the 2020 season. Notre Dame College scored six runs in the fourth inning against Southern Wesleyan University, but the Falcons ultimately needed a two-run ninth inning to grab a 10-9 victory, on Friday afternoon.

Southern Wesleyan put the first runs on the scoreboard when Dawson Posick hit a two-run single through the left side of the infield in the first inning. Posick would total three hits in the game.

That lead would stand until the top of the fourth. After being held without a hit for the first three innings, two Falcons were walked to begin the frame and Joseph Paskell singled to left field, putting a hit on the scoreboard and loading the bases. Drake May would follow with a sacrifice fly and Ben Ross doubled to left field, tying the game at two with just one out recorded.

Following another walk and a pitching change, Corey Miley stepped up and singled to left field, giving Notre Dame a 4-2 lead. NDC would add on with a run scored on a wild pitch and a Lukas Thompson RBI single.

The Falcons would tack on a run in the sixth inning and the eighth inning, giving themselves a comfortable 8-2 advantage. But SWU would make a comeback in their home opener.

Before an out was made in the bottom of the eighth, the Warriors were hit by a pitch and then a combination of back-to-back doubles and a triple brought in three runs. An RBI groundout would make the score 8-6 in favor of NDC. The Falcons would turn to Alec Mendoza to get out of the inning and he retired three consecutive hitters.

In the top of the ninth, the Notre Dame offense went back to work. May, Aaron Miller and Miley each singled, with Miley's hit bringing in a run. Two batters later, Thompson hit a ground-rule double, which scored Miller and gave Notre Dame a 10-6 lead.

However, in the bottom of the ninth, the Warriors hit back-to-back singles to start the inning. A walk loaded the bases and Tanner Glass knocked one in with a sacrifice fly. Jarrad Jones then doubled and advanced to third on an error. His hit brought in two runs to make the score 10-9, and Jones represented the tying run. But, Todd Marshall finished strong, retiring the next two Warriors.

The win represents Notre Dame's first season-opening victory since 2017. Thompson was very impressive at the top of the order, going 3-for-6 at the plate with two RBI. The first four hitters in the lineup (Thompson, Shane Mittleman, Nick Farrell and Paskell) all recorded at least one hit. May recorded two hits, while Miley went 2-for-3 with three RBI and two runs scored. Chris Murphy got the win after allowing just two runs in four innings of work.

Notre Dame will wrap up their series with Southern Wesleyan, tomorrow. The double-header is scheduled to begin at 12 p.m.