April 18, 2008

SOUTH EUCLID, Ohio – Notre Dame pulled out an extra-inning comeback win in game one of a twin bill against John Carroll Friday. After trailing 3-0 coming into the home half of the tenth frame, NDC scored four runs to win, 4-3. The Falcons carried that momentum into a 4-1 nightcap win to sweep the Blue Streaks and earn their fourth consecutive victory.

Freshman Meredith Harbarger (Akron, OH) and senior Katie Lapczenski (Willoughby Hills, OH) combined to throw 17 innings of four-run ball in the twin bill. Anna Ball (Bellville, OH) went 4-for-9 and had the game-winning hit in the opener.

The opening game was a taut 0-0 pitcher's duel through the regulation seven. Working the entire game, Harbarger was touched up for three runs in the 10th. Minutes later, a Ball double would clear the bases for NDC in a quick four-run comeback. Harbarger struck out a team season high in the game - she fanned 14 JCU batters.

In the nightcap, Lapczenski picked up where Harbarger left off. The senior hurler struck out nine batters without issuing a walk. She yielded just a lone run in the third. Offensively, NDC batted around in the first and crossed the plate three times. That would account for their only scoring in the game, but it was enough to pull off the sweep.

With the two wins, the Falcons run their season record to 16-9. The Blue & Gold are slated to play again Monday (Apr. 21), when they host Malone College at Campus Field.

NOTES FROM THE NEST...

BALL TABBED FOR NATIONAL POW: On Wednesday, Anna Ball was named the NAIA National Player of the Week for the week of Apr. 7-13. Ball recorded 12 hits in 20 at bats for a .600 batting average during the week and helped the Falcons post 6-0 record. She had seven RBIs and scored 12 runs on seven doubles, one triple and two home runs. ... For the season, the Bellville native is hitting .558 (48-for-86) with a slugging percentage of 1.000. Ball has 16 doubles, two triples and six home runs.