AVON, Ohio – Nick Farrell's walk-off solo home run in the bottom of the eighth inning highlights Notre Dame's (13-17, 9-5 MEC) split on Saturday afternoon against West Liberty University (6-24, 6-8 MEC). The Falcons grabbed the victory in game one 10-9 after an eight-inning rollercoaster. The Hilltoppers played resiliently and claimed game two 4-0.
 
WLU began the game by firing on all cylinders, a walk and a pair of hits led to the first run of the game for the Hilltoppers. A couple batters later, West Liberty's Kane McGee smacked a grand slam over the right field fence and all of the sudden, the Falcons trailed 5-0 before even stepping to the dish.
 
However, NDC answered the bell during the home half of the first. Nick Petrolla reached on an error by the shortstop, allowing two Falcons to cross home plate (5-2). Tyler Shadle clocked an RBI ground-rule double to right center during the very next at-bat to plate Petrolla, 5-3 WLU.
 
The scoring subsided for the next few innings as both pitchers settled into a grove. Austin Mora earned the start for NDC and held the Hilltoppers hitless between the critical innings of two through four.
 
Notre Dame notched a run during the bottom of the fourth inning after Aaron Miller clobbered his second home run of the season over the right field wall, 5-4.
 
In the top of the fifth inning, West Liberty added to their lead with four runs on three hits. An RBI double, sacrifice fly and two-run home run did the damage for the Hilltoppers (9-4).
 
The Falcons dug deep during the next inning by posting a four run sixth, fueled by four hits. Michael Zeuli got the inning started with a leadoff single to left field. Shane Mittleman registered a single to center field and A. Miller walked to quickly load the bases for NDC. After a WLU pitching change, Alec Mendoza ripped a two-run single up the middle, moving the score to 9-6 WLU. After a pair of Falcon outs, Kyle Espineli drew a walk to reload the bases for NDC with two away. It was Petrolla this time singling in the clutch to plate two more Notre Dame Falcons, cutting the West Liberty lead to just one (9-8).
 
Matthew Brown contributed two huge innings of scoreless relief out of the pen during the sixth and seventh innings to ensure Notre Dame the opportunity to get back into the game. Brown allowed just one hit, while striking out four Hilltoppers and walking one.
 
During the bottom of the seventh inning NDC needed only one run to extend the contest and that's when A. Miller continued his stellar day at the plate. After Zeuli tallied his second hit of the ballgame, and advanced to second on a wild pitch, Shane Mittleman dropped down a perfectly executed sacrifice bunt to move the center fielder over to third base with one away. A. Miller was the next man up and he put a charge into a ball to deep right field to generate the game tying sacrifice fly, 9-9.
 
Jesse Clark entered the game to hold down the fort for Notre Dame in the eighth. Clark sent the Hilltoppers down in order, bringing the Falcon bats right back to the plate.
 
The first batter of the inning was Nick Farrell and all it took was two pitches before he deposited a walk-off solo home run over the right field wall. Farrell completed NDC's magical comeback that featured the Falcons trailing by five runs during two different occasions in this rollercoaster of a contest. Farrell's home run marks his second walk-off homer and sixth total this season. Moreover, Notre Dame has now walked it off at Mercy Health Stadium for the fourth time in 2022.
 
In game two, Notre Dame was able to generate seven hits, however failed to bring a runner across home plate during a pitcher's duel.
 
The Falcons flashed pressure during the first, sixth and seventh innings with runners in scoring position but were never able to find that clutch hit.
 
WLU grabbed three runs in the third inning and an insurance run in the seventh inning to earn the 4-0 win.
 
Alex Dicke was named starter in game two for NDC as he tossed his second consecutive complete game. Despite the loss, Dicke pitched well by allowing four runs (three earned) on five hits, while fanning nine and walking three.
 
On the day, NDC totaled 19 hits and were led Ben Ross who went 5-for-7 at the dish. Petrolla, Zeuli, Mendoza, N. Farrell, Shadle and Mittleman all recorded multi hit afternoons as all nine Falcons registered a hit in game one. Driving in the runs for NDC was Petrolla, Mendoza and A. Miller with two apiece. In terms of extra-base hits, Ross, Petrolla and Shadle all enjoyed one double each as N. Farrell and A. Miller knocked the aforementioned home runs. Lastly, for Ross that is his 33^rd double of his career which leaves him one shy of tying the Notre Dame program record for career doubles.
 
Notre Dame College will be back in action on Sunday Apr. 10 for another doubleheader against the WLU Hilltoppers. The doubleheader is slated to begin at 1:00 p.m. at Mercy Health Stadium.