April 23, 2008

PAINESVILLE, Ohio - Notre Dame erupted for 18 runs Wednesday and topped Lake Erie College, 18-2. The Falcons scored six unearned runs of the Storm in the first inning and went from there. The Blue & Gold also hung crooked numbers on the Braggs Field scoreboard in the second, seventh, and eighth innings.

The Falcons racked up 15 hits and took advantage of six LEC errors in the game which marked the first-ever meeting between the two programs. Senior third baseman Mike Wilsey (Vermilion, OH) homered, doubled, and collected four RBIs in a 3-for-5 performance. On the mound, six Falcon hurlers combined on the two-run effort.

Notre Dame (17-18, 7-11) capitalized on three Storm errors in the first - the Falcons sent 11 batters to the plate and six scored. NDC scored four more in the second, an inning highlighted by Wilsey's home run. The second gave NDC a 10-1 lead.

The Falcons went on to score solo runs in the fourth and sixth frames. They put together three-run innings in both the seventh and eighth. Notre Dame's 18-run outburst is their highest scoring game since March 13, when they defeated Miami-Hamilton, 19-7. The Falcons' 15 hits mark their best single-game total since they collected the same number March 27 against Concordia. (Wednesday's game aganist LEC was a nine-inning game.)

Junior right fielder Eric Pelot (Lakewood, OH) joined Wilsey in notching three base hits on the afternoon. Junior designated hitter Jeff Burch (Strongsville, OH) hit a home run, his second.

Senior Ryan Rico (Mentor, OH) started the game against Lake Erie (12-22). He went three and was followed by sophomore Joe Frey (Erie, PA), Tony Canzoni (Sr/Walton Hills, OH), Sean Spellacy (Sr/Brunswick, OH), Jon Harnish (Jr/North Ridgeville, OH), and Lafe Burnette (So/Romulus, MI). The NDC moundsmen cruised through the middle innings with the Falcons in control.

"This was a good win today," said NDC Head Coach Craig Moro. "We did some things well, now we want to carry that into the remainder of our AMC schedule."

That conference slate will resume on Friday and Saturday, when Notre Dame plays Point Park (PA) in a home-and-home four-game set. The Pioneers will host NDC on Friday at 1 p.m. Notre Dame will host PPU at Paul Serra Field Saturday at 1 p.m.


NOTES FROM THE NEST...

HAVE BAT, WIL-HIT: With his 3-for-5 day on Wednesday, Mike Wilsey is now batting .369 (38-for-103) this season with nine doubles, three home runs, and 25 RBIs. The senior slugger leads the team in batting average, slugging percentage (.544), total bases (56), and runs batted in. ... The Vermilion native is eight for his last 17 at the plate.

TWO-BAGGER NO. 1: Freshman Trent Crow (Daytona Beach, FL) laced his first collegiate double in the eighth inning at Lake Erie. The newcomer from Daytona Beach ripped a shot into center field, plating two NDC runs. Crow is batting .192 (5-for-26) this season with five RBIs.

WELCOME TO THE CLUB: With Eric Pelot's third hit Wednesday, the Lakewood native became the second Falcon to collect 100 career base hits at NDC. Pelot joins senior Dustin Taulbee (Elyria, OH) in what is now an exclusive two-man club. Taulbee has 128 career hits through Wednesday's game. Wilsey will likely join those two shortly - he is sitting on hit No. 99. ... In his three seasons on College Road, Pelot is batting .369 (100-for-271). He is the program's leader in career on-base percentage (.466) and slugging percentage (.542).