SOUTH EUCLID, Ohio – In Notre Dame College's home opener, the Falcons split a double-header with Tiffin University. In game one, the teams went back-and-forth until Tiffin plated four runs in the sixth inning to win, 8-5. In game two, Chloe Vance pitched eight innings and the Falcons came back with two runs in the bottom of the eighth inning to win, 3-2, in walk-off fashion.

To start game one, both teams scored in the first inning. With runners on first and third, senior Alexi Maciejowski singled and tied the game at one. Maciejowski came up clutch again in the bottom of the third. Freshman Emma Gumont led off with a single and, after a sacrifice bunt, the Falcons' senior outfielder homered to left field to put NDC on top, 3-1.

TU plated two runs in the fourth and one in the fifth, taking a 4-3 advantage. In the bottom of the fifth, NDC responded. Maciejowski and Rehm walked before sophomore Ellen Wheatland singled to tie the game at four.

A four-run sixth put the Dragons in front and, although NDC would score one more in the bottom of the inning, Tiffin held on to win 8-5.

Maciejowski led the team with two hits and seven other Falcon batters had at least one hit. Sophomore Chloe Vance allowed three runs in four innings in the pitcher's circle.

NDC scored in the first inning, again, in game two. Sophomore Katelyn DeWeese singled to lead off the inning. Gumont then singled and stole second base. Junior Emily Marsh grounded out to second, scoring one run.

Maddie Woods singled in the third inning for Tiffin to score a runner from second, tying the contest at one.

Vance started game two and went eight innings, allowing two runs, one earned. Tiffin had a runner on third, with one out, in the fourth inning and a runner on second, with one out, in the seventh inning but did not score.

"Chloe has been awesome," head coach Kelsey Stopp said. "When she is out there, spinning the ball, hitting her spots, she's an awesome pitcher. It was really nice to see her finish that game strong. She had a great presence in the circle. Extremely proud."

With a runner on second base to start the eighth inning, because of the International Tie-Breaker rule, Tiffin scored when Kaylee Savage doubled to right-center field. But, once again, Vance got out of the inning.

Notre Dame needed to come back, and they did. DeWeese started the bottom of the eighth on second. Senior Daniele Rivera bunted the ball past the pitcher and shortstop to reach base and Gumont singled to tie the game at two. Marsh was the next batter, and she hit a line drive that bounced over the outfield fence for a walk-off ground-rule double.

"Everyone did their job," Stopp mentioned. "Daniele Rivera put the ball in play. We asked her to put the ball on the ground and she beat it out. Just that momentum was huge. Freshman Emma Gumont coming up and hitting it in the five-six hole to tie the game. Marshy comes in, attacking that first pitch, and she crushed it."

DeWeese had a career-high three hits in the leadoff spot and Gumont added two hits. Vance picked up the win.

The Falcons will head to West Liberty on March 19. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m.