SOUTH EUCLID, Ohio – Five Falcons tallied multiple hits in game two, as Notre Dame College poured on the runs during a 11-3 run-rule victory over Salem University. SU claimed game one 3-1, as the two sides split the doubleheader on Wednesday afternoon at Normandy Field. Freshman Kaitlyn Mazzocca produced a career day at the plate, going 3-for-3 with three RBI and a pair of doubles.
 
In game one, senior Madison Olszewski earned the starting nod, pitching four innings, and allowing one earned run on five hits, to go with a season-high six strikeouts and three walks.
 
The Tigers started the scoring during the top of the second inning with two runners coming around to score (2-0). SU added to the lead in the top of the fourth inning on a home run to center field (3-0).
 
In a low-scoring bout, NDC continued to fight and produced a run on two hits during the bottom of the sixth inning. First, Kennedy Bray tallied a pinch-hit lead-off single to center field, before stealing second base. A couple batters later, Mia Cipriano jolted an RBI double to left center field (3-1).
 
In relief, Grace Fisher tossed three innings of hitless, scoreless relief, to go with two strikeouts and zero walks allowed.
 
Cipriano paced the Notre Dame College offense in game one, going 2-for-3 with a double and RBI. In addition, Bray, Katelyn DeWeese, Destany Blake, Danielle Fick and Caitlin Michell added a hit, as the Falcons out-hit the Tigers 7-5.
 
In game two, the Notre Dame bats were rolling, as the Falcons scored a run during every frame en route to the run-rule victory. Furthermore, starting pitcher Allison Weilnau picked up the complete game victory by twirling five innings, allowing three runs on four hits, to go with four strikeouts and zero walks allowed.
 
Quickly, NDC moved in front during the bottom of the first inning as DeWeese poked a lead-off infield single. After stealing second base, DeWeese came around to score on a Blake RBI single to right center (1-0).
 
The Falcons doubled their advantage during the bottom of the second inning as DeWeese used an RBI sacrifice fly to score Cirpiano who reached base on a double to left center (2-0).
 
NDC added another run in the third inning, as Meadow Odum tallied a lead-off single through the right side, before scoring on a wild pitch (3-0).
 
Once again, Notre Dame doubled their advantage during the bottom of the fourth inning, scoring three runs on five hits. First, Alyssa Wahl singled to center filed, followed by Jocelyn Quior pinch-running and stealing second base. Next, Cipriano ripped an RBI single back up the middle to plate Quior (4-0). In the very next at-bat, Mazzocca roped an RBI double to the right center gap, allowing Cipriano to score (5-0). Two batters later, Blake slapped a single down the right field line, bringing Caitlynn Edwards into score after pinch-running (6-0).
 
Salem stayed in the fight during the top of the fifth inning, with three runs on three hits to bring the score to 6-3 NDC.
 
In the bottom of the fifth inning, the Falcons offense kept their foot on the gas, with five runs on three hits to grab the run-rule 11-3. To begin the inning, Ella Collinsworth hit a double to right center, followed by a Wahl walk and Cipriano hit by pitch (Hope Barrett pinch-ran), to load the bases. During the very next at-bat, Mazzocca's career game continued as she stroked a two-run ground-rule double to right center field (8-3). A few batters later, Avery Robinson poked an RBI single through the left side (9-3), before Fick drew an RBI walk (10-3). Still with the bases loaded, a Tiger error on a deep fly ball to right center field off the bat of Collinsworth scored the run that gave NDC an eight-run lead and the Falcons claimed the victory.
 
As aforementioned, five Falcons picked up multiple hits in game two, led by Mazzocca's career-high three hits, three RBI and two doubles. Blake (2-for-4), Odum (2-for-4), Robinson (2-for-4) and Cipriano (2-for-2) added multiple hits in the contest, as Notre Dame out-hit Salem 14-4. In addition, Blake (2), DeWeese (1), Robinson (1), Fick (1) and Cipriano (1) drove home the runs for NDC.
 
The Notre Dame College softball team will be back in action tomorrow, Thursday Mar. 28 with a doubleheader against West Virginia Wesleyan College on Normandy Field beginning at 2 p.m.