WEST LIBERTY, W.Va. – Redshirt junior Johnny Anservitz twirled a complete game shutout for Notre Dame College in game two, including a career-high 11 strikeouts, as NDC rolled past West Liberty University, 7-0. WLU claimed game one 6-4, as the two sides split the beginning of a pivotal four-game set.
 
In game one, the Falcons did not waste any time, immediately claiming a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning. Alec Mendoza singled through the right side, before coming around to score two batters later on an RBI single from Johnny Costella (1-0).
 
The Hilltoppers responded during the bottom of the first inning, scoring four runs on two hits, to claim a 4-1 lead.
 
West Liberty added a run in the second and third inning, on a pair of Falcon errors to lead 6-1.
 
During the top of the fourth inning, NDC returned the favor, scoring two runs on two Hilltopper errors. Damion Legaspe and Hayden Parker crossed home plate for the Falcons after reaching via error and walk, respectively (6-3).
 
Notre Dame manufactured another run in the sixth inning as Legaspe came around to score once again. The aforementioned Legaspe drew a one-out walk, stole second base, advanced to third on a single from Parker, before ultimately scoring on a Johnathan Cook sacrifice fly (6-4).
 
Mendoza, NDC's ace, received the starting nod in game one and despite a rocky first inning, the righthander settled in to throw his team-leading fourth complete game of the season (2^nd MEC). The redshirt junior worked through six innings, allowing six runs (2 earned), on four hits, while striking out three and walking four. After the first inning, the Pickerington, Ohio native surrendered just two runs (0 earned), on two hits, while striking out two and walking two, a commendable effort to keep NDC in the game, while providing added rest to the bullpen.
 
Going along with a complete game, Mendoza paced the Notre Dame College offense in game one, touting a 3-for-4 day at the plate, tying a season-high.
 
Costella joined the offense with multi-hit 2-for-4 day, including an RBI. Cook claimed the other run batted in for NDC as Parker and Nate Miller tallied hits.
 
Eager for a Sunday split, Notre Dame College jumped on the board first in game two, as Costella scored on an RBI single from Parker, following a walk (1-0).
 
A stalemate ensued over the next three frames as the scored remained 1-0, until the Falcons broke through in the fifth. More Hilltopper miscues aided NDC to a 3-0 advantage, as the bases were loaded following two errors and a walk. Now with one-out, Preston Mauzy stood in for an RBI hit by pitch, driving in Mendoza and doubling the NDC lead (2-0). Next, Legaspe poked an RBI single through the left side, scoring Costella (3-0).
 
Notre Dame continued to score during the top of the seventh inning, posting four runs on two hits to lead 7-0. Miller got the action started with a one-out single through the left side, before a Parker walk and Mauzy hit by pitch loaded the bases. Next, Legaspe drew an RBI base on balls, scoring Miller (4-0). After a Hilltopper pitching change and with two-down in the frame, pinch-hitter Sean Fernald stepped to the plate with the bases still juiced. The Gilroy, Calif. native put the icing on the cake for NDC, generating a bases-clearing double down the left field line, bringing home the likes of Legaspe, Mauzy and Parker to give the Falcons a 7-0 edge.
 
Starting pitching Johnny Anservitz needed just one run of support on the day, as the redshirt junior twirled NDC's first complete game shutout of the season. In addition, Anservitz scattered five hits, allowing one walk, while punching out a career-high 11 batters, tied for the third most in Notre Dame program history.
 
The Ashtabula, Ohio native recorded the most strikeouts in a game since Austin Mora on Mar. 4 last season, including the most strikeouts in a seven-inning game since Mora on Mar. 27, 2021. Moreover, Anservitz is the first Falcon to record a complete game shutout since Mora on Apr. 30 last year.
 
Offensively, Legaspe and Parker paced the Falcons each with multi-hit 2-for-3 days at the plate. Legaspe tied a career-highs with two base knocks and two runs batted in, in the contest
 
Parker and Mauzy also tallied RBI, as Fernald led the squad with a career-high three runs driven in on the Falcons lone extra-base hit in the game.
 
The Notre Dame College baseball team will be back in action tomorrow Monday, Apr. 24 to wrap up the four-game series at West Liberty, with a doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m.