AVON, Ohio - - Nathan Hatmaker tossed a complete game five hitter as UVa-Wise defeated Notre Dame College 6-3 in game one of Saturday's doubleheader before the host Falcons lined 12 hits in a 10-1 game two triumph at All Pro Freight Stadium.
Notre Dame (11-11, 4-4 MEC) got on the board first in the opener. Rob Barker singled to lead off the home second before scoring on T.J. Lett's RBI single.
UVa-Wise (11-12, 1-7 MEC) tied the game without a hit in the top of the fourth. Ty Lighton reached second base to lead off the frame thanks to a two-base throwing error. The senior moved to third on a groundout before Ben Coffman's RBI groundout tied the contest.
Cavalier starter Nathan Hatmaker would allow the Falcons to regain the lead in the bottom of the fourth but limited the damage to one. Lett's second RBI of the day also allowed the outfielder to reach base when UVa-Wise committed an error.
Lett would steal second but Hatmaker would retire the next two hitters to strand two runners in scoring position.
UVa-Wise would finally get to Notre Dame starter Cameron Fuller in the top of the fifth. Vinny Kuchenbuch got the rally going with a one-out double. Kuchenbuch's double started a string of five consecutive hitters to reach base for the Cavs.
Marcus Elmore knocked in one with a double down the right field line before scoring on a RBI bunt single by Ty Lighton. Coffman and Brett Yates also had a RBI in the frame; the Cavs other run of the inning came when Yates scampered home on a passed ball.
Trailing 6-2, Notre Dame mounted a rally in the home half of the sixth.
Nick Ely reached on an error before Keifer Quick's infield single put two on with nobody out. Ely would score a batter later when Lett grounded into a fielder's choice. Lett would move to third on the Cavs' third error of the game.
Hatmaker would get out of the jam when he induced a fly out off the bat of pinch hitter Hank Beasore to end the inning.
The junior left-hander would return to the mound for the seventh frame and retire the side in order for the complete game victory.
The win improved Hatmaker to 3-1 on the season as he walked just one while allowing one earned run.
Fuller dropped to 1-1 after surrendering five runs (four earned) on four hits in his 4 1/3 innings.
Kuchenbuch and Quick each had two hits in the contest while Lighton and Ely each scored a pair of runs for their respective teams.
UVa-Wise got off to a fast start in the second game as Elmore, Lighton and Klaiber picked up three consecutive singles to begin the contest.
Notre Dame would squash the threat by getting a double play and a groundout to hold the visitors to a run.
The Falcons would post a crooked number in each of the next four innings to take a 10-1 lead en route to the nine-run win.
Barker finished 4-4 for the Falcons while teammate Julio Rosales added three hits.
Lighton, Klaiber and David Thomas led UVa-Wise with two hits each in the finale.
Austin Tanfield (2-1) picked up the win by allowing a run on six hits in six innings of work.
The Falcons turned four double plays to offset 10 hits in garnering the split.
UVa-Wise will return to action Wednesday when the team completes its five-game road trip at Winston-Salem State.
