WINTER HAVEN, Fla. – Notre Dame College softball played their first game in Florida, on Sunday. Although NDC scored six runs, Ashland University was able to jump on the board with a big first inning and won the contest by a score of 11-6.

In the bottom of the first inning, Ashland put up five runs after drawing a walk, an RBI groundout, a sacrifice fly, a double and an error. NDC started to chip away as senior Mikaela Fording homered in the top of the second inning to make the score 5-1.

Ashland then began using the extra-base hit to drive in runs in the third inning. With one out and a runner on base, Kaitlyn Carney hit a two-run home run. Later in the inning, Ashland used a double, single and double back-to-back-to-back to plate four more runs.

The Falcons would score the next five runs in the game. Following a leadoff walk in the top of the fourth inning, sophomore Ellen Wheatland doubled a run home. She would move to third and score on two passed balls. With runners on second and third later in the inning, Fording scored to cap the three-run frame.

And with two outs in the top of the seventh inning, freshman Emma Gumont doubled to left center. Back-to-back errors allowed Gumont to score and then the Falcons plated one more run as Fording singled to the shortstop.

NDC is scheduled to play two games today, starting with Seton Hill University, at 1:30 p.m., and Southern New Hampshire University, at 6 p.m.