SOUTH EUCLID, Ohio – In a matchup of two MEC North Division teams, Notre Dame College took care of business at home. The Falcons scored five runs in game one and held off Alderson Broaddus University for a 5-4 win. In game two, the offense came alive and put eight run on the board for an 8-0 victory in five innings.

"We really needed today, as a team," said head coach Kelsey Stopp. "They came ready to work and, overall, such a good day. Both pitchers, Ally [Weilnau] and Madison [Olszewski], were competitive on the mound and was great to watch them. Hitting the ball and then executing really clicked for us today. It was a fun day to be a Falcon."

AB started the scoring in the first inning of game one, with a groundout RBI. Notre Dame bounced back in the bottom half of the inning. Sophomore Katelyn DeWeese and senior Daniele Rivera each reached base with a bunt single. DeWeese moved to third as Alderson Broaddus' third baseman Cloe McMahan committed a throwing error.

Junior Emily Marsh and senior Alexi Maciejowski both hit RBI singles and the Falcons led 2-1.

The score would remain the same as the teams cleared the field for a short rain delay before the start of the fourth inning.

Through six innings, NDC pitcher Allison Weilnau (5-6) had allowed just one run, and only two runners had reached third base. She set the Battlers down in order twice, and would pick up the win.

The Falcons got three important runs in the bottom of the fifth. As they did in the first inning, DeWeese and Rivera reached base, but this time they hit back-to-back doubles. With a run in and Rivera on second, Maciejowski stepped in with two out and put a ball over the fence in left field for her eighth homer of the season.

Trailing 5-1, Alderson Broaddus made it interesting in the seventh inning. A leadoff walk and two singles loaded the bags. Hailee Culbertson and Grace Sobeck hit back-to-back RBI singles and an RBI fielder's choice forced the second out of the inning at third base. AB was down to its final out, but trailed by just one run, 5-4, with runners at first and second. Another fielder's choice ended the game.

"[Alderson Broaddus] had seen me a couple times," Wailnau said, speaking about the seventh inning. "Obviously, they knew what was coming. It was more about keeping my confidence up and believing in myself."

DeWeese, Rivera and Maciejowski all had two hits. Maciejowski added three RBI in the game and now has 38 on the season. DeWeese, Rivera, senior Lexi Rehm and freshman Meadow Nardone all hit a double. Nardone's double was the first extra-base hit of her career.

In game two, NDC wasted little time getting on the board. DeWeese led off with a walk and then everyone was safe on a fielder's choice back to the pitcher. DeWeese and Rivera both advanced on a wild pitch and freshman Emma Gumont singled through the left side to score one run. With one out, Maciejowski tripled to left field to plate two runs and Rehm knocked her in with a sacrifice fly. NDC led 4-0.

Rivera led off with a single in the third inning and stole her second base of the day. She moved to third on a groundout and came home on a safety squeeze bunt, running after the throw to first base was made.

The Falcons' offense continued to pour it on in the fourth inning. Rehm led off with a double, but the next two hitters were called out. Sophomore McKenzie Anderson singled to center field to score Rehm. Anderson stole second and scored on an error. DeWeese stole second and scored on an RBI single by Rivera. The hit parade continued as Gumont singled and then Marsh was hit by a pitch to load the bases. The Falcons did not score anymore runs, but ended the fourth inning leading 8-0.

Rivera and Gumont each had two hits in game two. Batters two-through-five in the NDC order had six of the Falcons' seven RBI.

Freshman Madison Olszewski (3-3) threw her first complete game shutout with the Falcons. She struck out a season-high five batters.

"Everyone [on NDC] was hitting the ball really well, so I felt confident that I could throw anything and we would come back from anything," Olszewski said.

Notre Dame travels to Fairmont State on April 11. First pitch time will be announced later.