Box Score Last year Josh Falbo set WVSU records for saves in a season and a career. He was on the mound in relief when the Yellow Jackets won their second straight Mountain East Conference championship.

Friday Falbo returned to the mound at Linda K. Epling Stadium in Beckley for the first time since then. This time it was in his new role as a starting pitcher.

Falbo (9-2) scattered six hits over 7 1/3 innings and struck out five as WVSU defeated Notre Dame 3-2 on the second day this year's MEC tournament. Curtis Johnson, who took over Falbo's former role as closer, came on to retire the last five Falcon batters in order to earn the save.  

The Yellow Jackets (31-13) knocked out 12 hits but struggled to score runs. 

They got on the scoreboard first when Trenton Porter singled to lead off the game, advanced to second on Dylan Grimm's sacrifice bunt, moved to third on a passed ball and sprinted home on a wild pitch. 

The second WSVU run also came in the first but in a more traditional way. Jamison Jones drove a 3-2 pitch to right field for a triple and Trayvis Patterson followed with a single to left to drive him home.

Notre Dame (28-24) scored single runs in the first and second and the score was knotted at 2-2 for the next three innings.

Porter, Grimm and Jones combined to produce another run, the game-winner, in the top of the sixth. Porter beat out and infield grounder to short with two outs and then stole second. Grimm drew a walk and Porter advanced to third on a wild pitch. Jones followed with a gorundball single through teh left side to drive in Porter.

The Falcons threatened in the bottom of eighth when they landed runners on first and second with one out. 

But Johnson picked up his eighth save of the season by retiring the next five Notre Dame hitters, striking out two, to finish off the game.

The Yellow Jackets now face Shepherd (35-13) at 11 a.m. Saturday in a meeting of the two undefeated teams left in the tournament. The winner advanced to Sunday's 1 p.m. championship game. The llser comes back at 7 p.m. Saturday evening to play either Notre Dame or West Liberty who play at 3 p.m.