BRIDGEPORT, W.Va. – The ball was flying out of the yard on Friday afternoon as Notre Dame (18-17, 13-5 MEC) totaled eight home runs for the day to take the first two games of the series against Fairmont State (17-16, 12-6 MEC). In game one, Alec Mendoza, Nick Farrell and Ben Ross hit back-to-back-to-back home runs, to ensure a 11-1 victory. In game two, N. Farrell and Ross struck again with back-to-back home runs to lead NDC to an 9-7 win. Moreover, the two wins move Notre Dame above the .500 mark for the first time this season as head coach Len Barker sees his team rise to second place in the MEC North Division. In addition, Notre Dame has now won five games in a row, including ten of their last 11. Lastly, the NDC Falcons totaled four home runs in each game today, tying the second most homers hit in a game in program history.
 
After a pitcher's duel to begin game one, the Falcons started the scoring during the top of the fourth inning. Tyler Shadle broke the stalemate with an RBI single through the right side, plating N. Farrell who reached via walk (1-0). After Michael Zeuli was hit by a pitch, Shane Mittleman scored Ross with an RBI single to right field, totaling the Falcons' second run and third hit of the frame.
 
Falcon ace Austin Mora sent FSU down in order during the home half of the frame, putting NDC right back at the plate. Mora earned his third win of the season after he pitched five innings allowing one run on three hits, to go with six strikeouts and four walks.
 
During the top of the fifth inning, Mendoza, N. Farrell and Ross exchanged back-to-back-to-back home runs to lead off the inning and immediately put the Falcons in front, 5-0. Two batters later, Espineli sent a home run over the left field wall to total the fourth homer of the frame and NDC's sixth run of the game.
 
Fairmont State posted their lone run of the contest during the bottom fifth inning off a sacrifice fly, moving the score to 6-1.
 
In the top of the sixth inning, Ross registered his 34^th double of his career to put him in a three-way tie for the most doubles in Notre Dame program history. Ross is now tied with Zach Santoro (2017-2019) and Dustin Taulbee (2005-2008) for the program lead. Moreover, the redshirt sophomore's double scored Mendoza, moving the NDC lead to 7-1.
 
During the top of the seventh, the Falcons added four more insurance runs to win 11-1. Shadle ripped a double to right center, scoring Joe Prevesk. (8-1). Next, Shadle came around to score after a wild pitch, moving the advantage to 9-1. Mendoza rounded out the scoring with a two-run single through the left side, Mittleman and Zeuli scored on the play, 11-1 NDC.
 
Jesse Clark finished off the game for Notre Dame on the mound with two scoreless innings of relief, allowing just two hits.
 
In game two, N. Farrell and Ross got the party started once more by generating back-to-back home runs for the second consecutive game, this time in the first inning. Shadle continued the scoring with a single to right field, plating Espineli and giving Notre Dame a 3-0 lead after one.
 
Aaron Miller kept the momentum going with a solo home run in the top of the second inning, moving NDC in front 4-0.
 
Fairmont State brought home two runs in the third inning after an RBI double and RBI single (4-2).
 
After Zeuli scored in the fourth (5-2), Nick Petrolla tallied the eighth NDC home run of the day, this time a two-run homer, scoring Ross who singled the previous at bat (7-2). Later, Espineli was hit by a pitch and scored via wild pitch (8-2).
 
In the fifth, the FSU Falcons claimed four runs back on a grand slam to left field, cutting into the NDC lead 8-6. A sacrifice fly during the next inning moved allowed Fairmont State within one run, 8-7.
 
Mittleman added an insurance run for the Falcons during the seventh inning to give Notre Dame a two-run cushion (9-7). The second baseman flied out to right field but plated Mora who pinch hit and reached on a single up the middle.
 
During the bottom of the frame, A. Miller picked up his team leading sixth save of the season after he pitched two innings of work, allowing one hit and one run.
 
After an offensive outpour of 20 runs on 23 hits, several NDC Falcons enjoyed spectacular days at the plate. Ross paced the team with five hits on the day, while Mendoza and Shadle tallied three apiece. Espineli, N. Farrell, A. Miller, Mittleman and Zeuli all grabbed two hits at the dish. Driving in the runs for Notre Dame were Ross, Mendoza and Shadle with three, N. Farrell and Mittleman with two, and Espineli and A. Miller each with one.
 
Notre Dame blasted the long ball today with Ross and N. Farrell generating two apiece, while Mendoza, Espineli, Petrolla and A. Miller all homered once. For the season, Ross leads the team in home runs with 12, followed by N. Farrell with eight, then A. Miller with three, Mendoza and Petrolla each sit at two, as Espineli homered for the first time this year.
 
Notre Dame College will be back in action on Saturday Apr. 16 with another doubleheader slated for 1:00 p.m. against Fairmont State.