CANTON, Ohio – The Notre Dame College baseball team (6-22) kept the bats rolling on Tuesday afternoon at Malone University (16-17), as the Falcons totaled 12 runs on 16 hits despite falling to the Pioneers 14-12 in nine innings. Redshirt junior Alec Mendoza tied a season-high with three hits in the game, while sophomore Nate Miller set a career-high and led NDC with four runs driven in.
 
The Falcons jumped on the scoreboard first, tallying four runs on four hits in the top of the second inning. After Hayden Parker reached via error, Johnny Costella and Damion Legaspe exchanged back-to-back singles to load the bases for NDC with one-away. Johnathan Cook delivered Notre Dame a 1-0 lead following an RBI fielder's choice. With two-outs in the inning, Zachary Kakos lined a two-run triple to right field (3-0), before Tyler Shadle added an RBI single through the left side (4-0).
 
The Pioneers responded during the home half of the frame, cutting the Falcon lead in half (4-2).
 
MU continued their offensive prowess, collecting runs in the third, fourth and fifth innings, to lead 11-4.
 
In the top of the sixth inning, Notre Dame began to chip away, bringing home two runs on two hits. With one out in the frame, Jordan Long drew a walk and advanced to third on a single by Kakos. Miller followed up with a two-run double to right field, scoring both NDC Falcons (11-6).
 
After a one-two-three inning from pitcher Grant Meyer, the Falcons got back to work in the top of the eighth inning, producing six runs six hits to reclaim a 12-11 advantage.
 
NDC kicked off the inning with three straight singles, from Costella, Legaspe and Long (RBI), to score their first run (11-7). Two batters later, Miller jolted another two-run double, this time to left field after switching over to bat from the right side (11-9). Following a Malone pitching change, Mendoza continued the NDC hit-streak with a single through the left side, joined by a pair of hit-by-pitches from Bill Reaume and Parker (RBI) and the Falcons were within a run (11-10). Despite, MU turning to their bullpen once more, Maximilian Schweiger tied the game at 11-11 with an RBI single to right center. Lastly, Costella delivered Notre Dame the lead on an RBI fielder's choice to the left side (12-11).
 
For the final time in the game, Malone reclaimed the lead in the bottom of the eighth inning 14-12, after three runs on one hit.
 
The Falcons battled through the final out, as NDC threatened with the bases loaded in the top of the ninth inning.
 
On offense, Notre Dame College was powered by five Falcons who registered multiple hits in the game, as 10 different players recorded a base knock on the day for NDC. Mendoza paced the squad with his fifth consecutive multi-hit effort, going 3-for-5 at the dish and tying his season-high.
 
Legaspe set a career-high with a 2-for-4 showing at the plate, as Costella, Kakos and Miller all tied season-high marks with a pair of hits.
 
In addition, Miller drove in the most runs by an NDC Falcon this season as he set a new career-high with four RBI on 2-for-3 hitting with two doubles.
 
Kakos also enjoyed multiple RBI for NDC (2), as he picked up his first career triple.
 
Fernald (double) added the other extra-base hit for Notre Dame, while the likes of Cook, Costella, Long, Parker, Shadle and Schweiger accounted for the rest of the RBI on the day.
 
On the mound, graduate student Devin Fish continued to dazzle, as he offered 1.1 innings of scoreless, hitless relief.
 
The Notre Dame College baseball team will be back in action on Saturday Apr. 15 for a four-game set at home against Fairmont State.