SOUTH EUCLID, Ohio – Sophomore Grace Fisher struck out nine hitters and allowed only one run as Notre Dame College defeated West Virginia Wesleyan College, 4-1, in game one of Thursday's doubleheader. In game two, after W.Va. Wesleyan had a four-run fifth inning, NDC scored four runs over the final two innings to win 6-5.
 
With two out in the top of the first inning of game one, West Virginia Wesleyan had a single and a double to put two runners in scoring position. But, Fisher was able to pitch out of the jam by getting the next hitter to pop up.
 
Notre Dame put the first run on the board in the bottom of the first. With the Bobcats playing in, senior Katelyn DeWeese sent the ball over the left fielder's head for a leadoff triple. Two batters later, senior Meadow Odum hit an RBI groundout.
 
WVWC did take advantage of a leadoff double in the second inning, and scored the tying run on an RBI single. However, the Falcons went right back in front in the bottom half of the frame. Junior Ella Collinsworth put a one-out single through the right side and stole second base. She came around to score the go-ahead run when senior Mia Cipriano belted a double to right field.
 
The Falcons' offense had at least one runner reach third base in each of the first three innings.
 
Fisher settled in and was dominant by the middle of the game. She struck out the side in the fourth and would strike out five straight by setting the first two hitters down in the fifth inning, as well.
 
"Grace [Fisher] kept the ball all around the zone, making hitters chase it," said head coach Kelsey Stopp.
 
Notre Dame pushed the lead to three runs in the sixth inning. Odum led off with a ground-rule double to right field. She moved to third on a groundout and scored on an RBI single by junior Alyssa Wahl. Freshman Jocelyn Quior entered the game as a pinch runner, stole second base and scored on an RBI single by Collinsworth.
 
Collinsworth led the team with two hits, while also scoring a run and driving one in. Fisher did not walk a hitter in a complete game victory.
 
In game two, the Falcons took the lead in the bottom of the first, again. Odum doubled and freshman Avery Robinson singled for a two-out rally to plate the first run. And in the second inning, Cipriano sent the ball over the center field fence for a solo home run, her first as a member of the Falcons.
 
West Virginia Wesleyan only had two hits through the first four innings, but then scored four runs on six hits in the fifth inning. Senior Madison Olszewski, who was credited with the win, was called upon to enter the pitcher's circle with runners on first and third. She got out of the jam without allowing another run.
 
"I was very impressed with our pitching staff in that second game," Stopp said. "Ali [Weilnau] started and did her job. Maddy [Olszewski] came in in a very tough situation and got out of it and Avery finished it off."

The Falcons battled back in the bottom of the fifth, scoring three times. DeWeese walked and then stole second, before moving to third as the ball was kicked into the outfield. Blake sent a single back up the middle to score a run and Robinson singled and moved to second on a throw home. And with two out, an error by the WVWC first baseman, allowed two runs to score to put NDC on top 5-4.
 
In an attempt to respond, Wesleyan had runners on first and third base, with one out in the top of the sixth. Robinson, who secured her first career save, entered the circle and got the final two outs without allowing a run. Notre Dame did not sit back in the bottom of the sixth and the Falcons worked to get a very important run across. DeWeese hit an RBI single, which turned out to be the winning run as the Bobcats added one in the top of the seventh.
 
The first five hitters in the NDC lineup combined for six hits. Freshman Kaitlyn Mazzocca went 2-for-3. DeWeese, who went 1-for-3 with an RBI in game one, has reached base safely in all but one game this season.
 
Also of note, Notre Dame did not commit an error in either game.
 
"I'm proud of our defense for always backing each other up," Stopp mentioned. "I was extremely impressed with our defense in that first game, not much fell or got through."
 
Notre Dame will be back on the home turf, tomorrow, playing Davis & Elkins College at 1 and 3 p.m.