Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

SOUTH EUCLID, Ohio – The Mercyhurst University softball team dropped two games against Notre Dame College on Tuesday afternoon.  The Falcons beat Mercyhurst 6-4 in game one, before the Lakes took Notre Dame into extra innings but fell 3-2.
 
Mercyhurst falls to 12-20 in the season after the loss.  Notre Dame College improved to 11-11 this season.
 
The Falcons tallied four runs early on to give them the 4-0 edge.  Megan Turner drove in one run wile Rachelle Miller contributed to the other three on two separate singles. 
 
The Lakers answered back in the sixth, with freshman Allison Yule continued her hot streak led off with a double to left field.   Junior Courtney Smith drove in Yule to trail 4-1 and mark her fourth straight game driving in an RBI. 
 
At the top of the seventh, Mercyhurst trailed 6-1 with their last opportunity to take the lead.  Junior Megan Smith started off beating out a solid hit to third base.  Junior Kayliegh Milliman reached on an error for senior Kristen Fyffe hit a fly ball to right field to advance each runner.  
 
With runners on second and third, sophomore Becky Malaga pinched hit just in time to drive in two RBIs and cut the Falcon lead in half.  The next at bat, Yule traded placed with Malaga for a double of her own but it was not enough as Notre Dame marked three outs before Mercyhurst could make a comeback.
 
Senior Megan Hopton (7-10) tallied the loss on the mound, pitching 1.1 innings, allowing six hits for three runs.  Freshman Chelsea Calabro attempted the save, pitching 4.2 innings pitched allowing six hits for three runs and one strikeout.
 
In game two, Notre Dame once again crossed the dish first their first at bat of the contest after a string of singles by the Falcons.  Kelsey Coleman tallied her first hit of the day to drive in the go ahead run. 
 
At the top of the third, the Lakers tied the equalizer after a handful of singles of their own.  Freshman Taylor Jezuit led off the inning after striking a single down the left field line.  She was advanced to second by senior Molly McNamara on a bunt for Courtney Smith to push Jezuit home. 
 
Coleman drove in her second RBI of the game for the Falcons to take back the 2-1 lead after driving in Miller who singled to lead off the inning.  Notre Dame would maintain the lead until Mercyhurst's sophomore Shaina Bunker hit her second homerun of the season to tie the game and force the contest into extra innings.
 
Notre Dame's defense held the Lakers to nine innings giving up a total of two hits in each.  Mercyhurst gave up two hits at the bottom of the ninth to allow Jessica Bequette to drive in the winning run.
 
Sophomore Annie Truelove pitched the entire 9 innings, giving up eleven hits, two walks and a season-high six strikeouts in the loss.  Truelove is now 4-4 in the season.
 
The Lakers will return to the PSAC West action over the weekend.  Mercyhurst will travel to Edinboro Friday, April 12 for a doubleheader starting at 2:30 p.m.  The Lakers will then host their home-opener over Slippery Rock University at the Mercyhurst Softball Field starting at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, April 13.