DAVENPORT, FL – Aaron Miranda and Caden Gomes each tallied three extra-base hits, while Miranda and Devon Morris went yard, however the Notre Dame College baseball team fell during both contests on Monday in Florida. The Falcons dropped game one to Thomas More 6-1, before a loss to Ashland in the afternoon 11-9.
 
Game one was primarily a pitcher's duel as both sides were scoreless through two innings. NDC starting pitcher, Hudson Wesney stranded a pair of Saints in the first, and picked up a punch out in the second to hold the score at 0-0.
 
The scoring started in the third inning as Thomas More posted two runs on two hits to lead 2-0.
 
Notre Dame responded during the home half of the frame as Dylan Wimbs produced a lead-off single. Next, Johnny Costella singled to place runners at first and second. A couple batters later, Alexander Jones roped an RBI single allowing Costella to score (2-1).
 
During the top of the fourth inning, Wesney sent the Saints down in order to bring the Falcons back to bat. Despite a Miranda lead-off double and Cadence Varner reaching base via error, the score remained 2-1 in favor of Thomas More.
 
The Saints got their bats rolling during the top of the fifth inning, posting four runs on five hits to move ahead 6-1.
 
Reliever Garret Odey closed game one strong posting zero runs on four hits, to go with two strikeouts and zero walks over 5.0 innings pitched. Despite, NDC falling 6-1, Odey ate up quality innings for head coach Len Barker and the Falcons pitching staff.
 
A slugfest ensued in game two, featuring 20 runs combined on 24 hits. The contest saw Ashland start the scoring during the bottom of the first inning, with three runs on four hits to lead 3-0.
 
The Falcons got on the scoreboard during the top of the fourth inning, tallying two runs on one hit (3-2). Caden Gomes began with a lead-off single before Devon Morris and Varner drew back-to-back walks to load the bases. Two batters later, Johnny Costella drew an RBI walk, before Carson Petrecca did the job with a sacrifice fly.
 
AU grabbed a run back during the home half of the frame on an RBI single (4-2).
 
However, in the top of the fifth inning, Notre Dame mounted a two-out rally with on one on base. First Caden Gomes doubled, before Morris homered to tie the game at 4-4.
 
The Golden Eagles quickly regained the advantage in the bottom of the fifth inning on a three-run home run (7-4).
 
Once again, in the top of the sixth inning, Notre Dame responded with a three-run home run of their own. First, Johnny Costella poked a lead-off single, before Jones singled a few batters later. With two outs in the frame, Miranda launched game-tying three-run home run, knotting the game at 7-7.
 
Next, Ashland added four runs on four hits in the bottom of the sixth to lead 11-7.
 
Fighting until the final out, NDC mounted a late rally in the top of the ninth inning, scoring two runs on a pair of AU errors. Both Gomes and Varner produced walks and came around to score on a Golden Eagle error, however Notre Dame dropped game two, 11-9.
 
On the bump, Guy Young valiantly held NDC in the contest, closing the final 2.2 innings, allowing zero runs on three hits to go with four strikeouts and zero walks allowed.
 
Over the two games, the Notre Dame College offense was paced by the aforementioned Gomes (three 2B) and Miranda (2B, 3B, HR) with three extra-base hits each. Morris joined the duo in producing an extra-base hit (HR).
 
Miranda drove home a team-high three runs, while Costella and Morris recorded a pair of RBI, and Petrecca and Jones tallied one run driven in.
 
The Notre Dame College baseball team is back in action today, Mar. 5 at 4:30 p.m. against Winona State University in Davenport, FL.