April 1, 2008

MOUNT VERNON, Ohio - Notre Dame starter Mick Robinson (Jr/Canal Winchester, OH) came into Tuesday's doubleheader at Mount Vernon Nazarene University as the recipient of just six runs' worth of run support in games he's pitched this season. Those six runs came in five starts, and Robinson lost all five. So, with a 0-5 record in tow, the southpaw from Canal Winchester likely thought he needed to pitch a shutout to get a win against a solid Cougar nine.

In one of NDC's top pitching performances of the season, Robinson went out and indeed tossed a shutout, Notre Dame's first since Apr. 21, 2007, as Notre Dame earned a split against MVNU. The split came against a quality team in American Mideast Conference (AMC) action; MVNU is now 12-9 overall, 4-2 in conference play.

Mount Vernon got a fine pitching performance by their own lefthander, Levi Curry (Sr/Mount Vernon, OH) in an 11-1 game one victory.

Game one
Curry had plenty of run support from the Cougar offense in the opener. MVNU scored three in the first and one more in the second to chase NDC starter Chris Balmert (Sr/Lakewood, OH). That would be enough for Curry, who tossed the second perfect game in Cougar history in his last start (March 26). The 6-foot lefty baffled Notre Dame batters, not allowing more than one hit in any single inning.

Mount Vernon scored seven more runs in the game, all off NDC freshman reliever Trent Crow (Daytona Beach, FL).

The Falcons scored their lone run in the fifth, when senior third baseman Mike Wilsey (Vermilion, OH) came around to score an unearned run after doubling to lead off the inning.

Levi Curry scattered four hits and walked two in going the distance. He struck out six, and held NDC to an 0-for-7 mark with runners in scoring position. The veteran lefthander now owns a 1.54 ERA through 35 innings pitched this season.

The 11 runs allowed by Falcon pitching were the most they've yielded since giving up 12 in their Feb. 22 opener at University of the Cumberlands (KY).

Game two
The nightcap belonged to the resilient Robinson, who had started his Notre Dame career 0-5 after transferring from the University of Rio Grande.

The lefty newcomer walked the second batter he faced in the first inning and then proceeded to retire the next seven Cougars in order. MVNU didn't record their first hit until the fourth. They didn't get a runner to second base until the bottom of the sixth, when they were down 3-0 on the Cougar Field scoreboard.

The Falcons scored the first run of the game in the fifth on Jeff Burch's (Jr/Strongsville, OH) first home run of the season, a solo shot to left. NDC then scored a pair of unearned runs in both the sixth and seventh innings off MVNU starter Jason Decker (Jr/Dover, OH).

Decker went the full seven for the Cougars. He allowed eight Falcon hits while striking out four without issuing a walk.

For his part, Mick Robinson went seven, giving up just three hits (all singles). He walked five and fanned five and induced 13 groundball outs.

"Mick was outstanding," said NDC Head Coach Craig Moro. "It's about time the kid got a break with some offense behind him!"

Senior Dustin Taulbee (Elyria, OH) led the bat attack for the Blue & Gold. The veteran middle infielder went 4-for-6 with a pair of doubles on the afternoon. He raised his season average to .343 and extended what is now a seven-game hit streak.

Notre Dame (11-12, 4-6) broke a season-long four game losing streak with the win in game two.

The Falcons had their Wednesday doubleheader at John Carroll postpone due to conference schedule obligations for JCU. The eastside showdown between the Falcons and Blue Streaks was rescheduled as a single game for Thursday at 4:00pm.

NOTES FROM THE NEST...

SHOUT-OUT FOR THE SHUTOUT: Mick Robinson's solo shutout was Notre Dame's first of the 2008 season and their first since Apr. 21, 2007, when Chris Balmert shut out Point Park (PA), 1-0. It's the sixth shutout in program history (not including combined efforts). ... Through six starts and 35-1/3 innings, Robinson now owns a 3.06 season ERA. Tuesday's seven-inning effort marked his fourth complete game of the year. Opposing hitters are batting just .248 off Robinson, without a home run. He leads the team in strikeouts, with 32.

STREAKING: Dustin Taulbee went 2-for-3 in each game Tuesday and now owns a seven game hit streak. That ties Mike Wilsey's (Sr/Vermilion, OH) NDC best this season. In the seven games, Taulbee is a combined 9-for-23 (.391). For the season, the Elyria native is batting .343/.423/.478 (BA/OBP/SLG), and he leads the team with six multi-hit games. ... With two doubles against the Cougars, Taulbee upped his NDC program record to 27 for his career. In 446 career plate appearances for the Falcons, Taulbee sports a .390 on-base percentage. That percentage ranks sixth in Notre Dame history.

SINISTER SIDEWINDERS: The two portsiders in Tuesday's twin bill (MVNU's Levi Curry and NDC's Mick Robinson) combined to record 11 punchouts in 13 innings. They allowed seven hits and zero earned runs. ... Curry tossed a 10-strikeout perfect game in his previous start, March 26 against Cedarville. He leads an MVNU staff which sports a team ERA of 3.97 through 21 games.