AVON, OH -- NDC starting pitchers threw three complete games in the split of the four-game series with the Fighting Falcons of Fairmont State University this past weekend.

Game one of the weekend was a pitcher's duel, and had a result of 2-1 in favor of the opposition. Austin Mora got the start, and allowed the lone run on five hits, three walks, and earned ten strikeouts in a complete game effort. All of the runs scored for both teams came in the fourth inning. In the top half, Fairmont took a 1-0 lead on a ground out to the pitcher, which advanced a runner to second base and scored the first run. On the following at-bat they scored again on a single.  In the bottom half of the inning, Ben Ross hit a ground-rule double and then advanced to third base on a ground out by the batter behind him, Nick Farrell. He then scored on a wild pitch. The Falcons fought hard in the bottom of the seventh by getting a runner into scoring position, but they were unable to get a run in and Fairmont took the first game of the series.

Hayden Parker was on the bump for the second complete game of the series. Parker gave up two runs on three hits and earned six strikeouts throughout the game. The Falcons took a 2-0 lead by the third inning. Nick Farrell doubled and scored Ben Ross (first inning), and then an error committed by the Fairmont defense allowed Mike Zeuli to score. In the fifth inning, Fairmont hit a home run, and earned the tying run in the inning after on an error committed by the Notre Dame defense. In the bottom of the seventh, Ben Ross scored Patrick Aitken to win the game in walk-off fashion with a final score of 3-2.

The teams then came back on Sunday, and the Falcon bats exploded for nine runs in the third game of the series, including three home runs. Ben Ross went 4-4 at the plate, scoring two runs himself and driving in two runs on two doubles and a home run. Jacob Fonderlin also hit a home run, and went 3-4 at the plate. Aaron Miller hit the last home run of the game, and went 2-3 at the plate and scored one run himself while driving in three runs. Brady Biglin pitched a gem in third complete game of the series, allowing only one earned run on two hits and three walks in his 27 batters faced. He earned eight strikouts.

NDC fell in the final game of the series with a score of 4-3, although they took an early lead on a single hit through the right side by Parker Hray which scored Ross. The Falcons then went up 3-0 on a two-run home run hit over the scoreboard at MercyHealth Stadium by Nick Farrell. Fairmont State scored their four runs in the top of the fifth inning on a double that scored their first run, and then a single that caused the Falcons to throw the ball around, which scored three runs. Devin Fish pitched five innings and earned seven strikeouts, but was credited with the loss. Ashton Spurgeon pitched two scoreless innings in relief.

The Falcon pitching staff earned 31 strikeouts as a staff in the four games they played against Fairmont State this weekend. 

Baseball's overall record sits at 12-16 after this weekend, with an MEC record of 9-11. The Falcons will head on the road to the leading team in the division, Wheeling University (19-8) to continue their MEC campaign. The program currently sits in fourth place in the MEC North behind a 10-12 Alderson Broaddus team.