AVON, Ohio – Notre Dame (6-13, 2-2 MEC) used two big third inning rallies to propel themselves over West Virginia State (8-6, 2-2 MEC) twice, 7-2 and 6-3. Kyle Espineli tied his career-high by going 3-for-3 at the plate during game two as he tallied five of Notre Dame's 21 hits on the afternoon.
 
Notre Dame began the scoring early as Austin Mora led the Falcons off with a single through the left side, followed by Alec Mendoza's single through the right side. Head coach Len Barker opted to hit All-American Ben Ross in the three-spot today and it paid off instantly. Ross plated Mora on a sacrifice fly to center field and NDC was on top 1-0.
 
The Falcons would continue the scoring in the bottom of the third inning with three hits to begin the frame. Ross doubled down the left field line, followed by Nick Farrell's single, while Kyle Espineli brought Ross home with another single (2-0). After Shane Mittleman executed a sacrifice bunt to advance the runners, Tyler Shadle drove in NDC's third run of the game on a sacrifice fly to left field. Furthermore, Preston Mauzy kept the inning alive with a walk, allowing Hayden Parker to send an RBI ground-rule double into the left field corner (4-0).
 
West Virginia State would claim one run back in the top half of the fourth after an RBI double to right center (4-1).
 
However, the Falcons continued their offensive outpour with Ross homering for his team-leading sixth time this season, pushing NDC in front 5-1 in the fourth. The redshirt sophomore's home run marks the 17th during his time in South Euclid and setting the new NDC record for home runs in a career.

Later in the inning, Espineli and Mittleman exchanged singles, and Shadle drove home Espineli on a ground-rule double to right center increasing the lead to 6-1
 
Nick Farrell added an insurance run for the Falcons during the home half of the fifth with an RBI single to center field which allowed Parker to score NDC's seventh run of the game.
 
Kyle Farrell earned the start for Notre Dame on the bump and tossed three innings allowing one earned on two hits. Jesse Clark came on in relief of Farrell, by also tossing three innings and allowing one earned on six hits, while picking up the win. Aaron Miller worked a scoreless seventh inning by not allowing a WV State baserunner.
 
In game two of the doubleheader, Notre Dame leapt out in front once again after redshirt senior Mora led of the bottom of the first with a triple. Mendoza plated Mora during the very next at bat on an RBI groundout to shortstop (1-0).
 
The Yellow Jackets struck back in the top of the second inning with a pair of runs, via an error and a hit by pitch.
 
During the home half of the third inning Notre Dame turned their offense up a gear by scoring five runs during the frame. Mendoza drove in Mora to the tie the contest 2-2 after the redshirt senior reached via an error. Espineli shot a two-run double down the right field line, just inches inside the foul line to extended the Falcon advantage to 4-2. Nick Petrolla generated Notre Dame's fifth run of the game with a sacrifice fly to right field, sending Espineli home. During the very next at bat, Parker singled through the left side to plate Mittleman who had singled earlier in the inning.
 
Calvin Andringa pitched into the sixth inning for NDC, earning his first win of the season after allowing three runs on five hits. Devin Fish and Miller dealt scoreless innings in relief, with Miller claiming his third save of the season.
 
As aforementioned, Espineli electrified the Notre Dame offense with a team-high five hits on the day. Parker followed suit with three hits as Ross, N. Farrell, Mora, Mendoza, Mittleman and Shadle each collected two hits apiece. In addition, Espineli drove home a team-leading three runs, with Parker, Ross, Shadle and Mendoza each brining in two. The Falcons accumulated six extra-base hits on the day, highlighted by Ross' solo home run in game one.
 
Notre Dame will be back in action on Saturday and Sunday Mar. 26-27. The Falcons are slated for a doubleheader at Glenville State on Saturday, followed by a doubleheader at Concord University on Sunday. Both doubleheaders are slated for a 1:00 p.m. first pitch.