AVON, Ohio – The bats continued to roll for the Notre Dame College baseball team, posting eight runs on 14 hits against Malone University on Thursday afternoon inside Mercy Health Stadium. However, despite the offensive output, the Falcons fell to the Pioneers 9-8.
 
Malone started the scoring during the top of the first inning (1-0), before moving in front 3-0 during the second.
 
Notre Dame grabbed a pair of runs during the home half of the fourth inning, as Jacob Barker began with a lead-off double down the right field line. After Jackson Smetak singled through the right side, Barker came around to score on a Pioneer error (3-1). During the next at-bat, Damion Legaspe generated an RBI on a groundout to second base (3-2).
 
The Falcons took the lead during the bottom of the fifth inning with three runs on three hits. First, Alexander Jones doubled to left center, plating Devon Morris who drew a walk (3-3). Next, NDC moved in front when Carson Petrecca traded places with Jones on an BRI double to left center (4-3). Two batters later and with two outs in the frame, Smetak roped another RBI double to left center (5-3).
 
The Pioneers reclaimed the lead in the top of the sixth inning with five runs on four hits to lead 8-5.
 
NDC continued to battled with two runs on four hits all with two outs in the bottom of the sixth inning. With the bases empty, Jordan Long doubled to right center, followed by Morris' single to left. Next, Jones poked an RBI single through the left side, scoring Long (8-6). In the next at-bat, Petrecca jolted an RBI single to center field, bringing home Morris (8-7).
 
MU answered with a run during the top of the seventh inning to hold a 9-7 edge.
 
The Falcons fought until the final out as Legaspe produced a run all on his own. First, the centerfielder doubled to left, before stealing third base, and causing a Pioneer throwing error. The error allowed Legaspe to move the score to 9-8.
 
A trio of Falcons registered three hits on the day in Jones (3-for-4), Morris (3-for-4) and Smetak (3-for-5). Petrecca added a multi-hit (2-for-5) game, as the shortstop tallied a pair of RBI, alongside Jones (2), Smetak (1) and Legaspe (1). Lastly, six different Falcons recorded a double on the day in Barker, Legaspe, Long, Jones, Petrecca and Smetak. Six doubles are tied for the second-most in a game in program history and the most since NDC had six doubles at Malone back in Apr. 2022.
 
On the bump, three relievers pitched an inning of scoreless relief in Matthew Brown, Hudson Wesney and Nate Miller. Wesney was untouched by the Pioneers, by surrendering zero hits and picking up a punch-out.
 
The Notre Dame College baseball team will be back in action on Saturday and Sunday Apr. 27-28 as the Falcons travel to Frostburg State University for a four-game series.