AVON, Ohio – For the second time in as many days, the Notre Dame College baseball team (9-23, 9-11 MEC) generated a walk-off win over Fairmont State University (9-25, 8-12 MEC), as sophomore Jordan Long sent the game-winning two-run single up the middle in the series finale. NDC won 4-3 in the second game of the day, ensuring a series victory after FSU took the opener 11-2. Upon taking three of four during the weekend series, NDC vaulted into a tie for second place in the MEC North Division, where the top three teams in each division receive a bid into the MEC Tournament.
 
Fairmont State started game one with two runs on two hits in the top of the first inning, to lead 2-0.
 
FSU added runs in the second, third and fourth innings, taking a 6-0 advantage.
 
NDC got onto the board with one run on two hits during the home half of the fifth inning. With one out, Devon Minney singled to third base, before Tyler Shadle sent a ground-rule double to right center. Next, Mendoza drove home Minney by putting the ball in play to the third baseman (6-1).
 
Fairmont State then tallied five runs in the sixth inning, maintaining an 11-1 lead.
 
Notre Dame scored their second run of the game in the bottom of the sixth inning, after Damion Legaspe tripled home Johnny Costella (11-2).
 
Despite the loss, Shadle totaled a multi-hit game with a pair of doubles, while reliever Garret Odey twirled an inning of scoreless, hitless relief.
 
In game two, Fairmont State started the scoring once again with one run on one hit in the top of the first inning.
 
Notre Dame evened the score at 1-1 in the bottom of the fourth inning with help from an FSU error. Costella drew a one-out walk, before Mendoza hit a troublesome ball to the Fairmont State center fielder near the wall.
 
The FSU Falcons responded with two runs on one hit in the top of the fifth inning to reclaim a 3-1 lead.
 
The NDC Falcons quickly answered during the home half of the frame as Jordan Long produced a two-out RBI single to right field (3-2), scoring Hayden Parker after his leadoff single.
 
Carrying their momentum from the fifth, Parker led off the bottom of the seventh inning with a walk, later advancing to second on a wild pitch. After Joe Prevesk came on to pinch run, Legaspe drew another walk, before Maximilian Schweiger reached on an FSU error during a sacrifice bunt attempt. With the bases loaded and no one out, Long generated a two-run walk-off single up the middle, gifting NDC a 4-3 victory. The walk-off winner marked the fourth on the year for NDC, and the second in as many days.
 
Graduate student Devin Fish once again locked down the Fairmont State offense, extending his scoreless streak to 14.1 innings in a row. Fish took over for starting pitcher Kyler Farrell after Farrell's commendable 4.2 innings of work, allowing one earned run on three hits, while striking out three and walking one. Fish closed out the contest tossing 2.1 innings, allowing zero runs on four hits en route to his team-leading fifth win of the year.
 
Shadle paced the Notre Dame College offense on the day with three hits, extending his hit streak to 13 straight games.
 
Long followed suit with a career-high 2-for-3 showing at the plate, including a team-high three RBI in game two.
 
Mendoza and Legaspe collected the other RBI for Notre Dame on the afternoon.
 
The Notre Dame College baseball team will be back in action on Wednesday Apr. 19 for a nine-inning non-conference bout with Walsh University at Mercy Health Stadium in Avon, Ohio.