WALTHAM, MASS. – The Saint Anselm baseball team went down to Waltham, Mass., this afternoon to take on the Bentley University Falcons in the first Northeast-10 Conference game of the season.  In an evenly-matched game, the Hawks fell to the Falcons 5-4 in the bottom of the 10th inning.  The win lifts the Falcons to 6-10 (1-0 NE-10), while the Hawks sink to 2-9 (0-1 NE-10).

After being retired in order in the top of the first, the Hawks opened the scoring in the second on a two-out RBI double by TJ Murphy (Reading, Mass.).  Charlie Pagliarulo tied the game in the bottom of the third, driving in Brett Damato with a two-out triple to right-center. 

The Hawks regained their lead in the top of the fifth inning, when TJ Murphy led off the inning with his second double of the game.  Richie Manzi (Plymouth, N.H.) moved him over to third on a single to leftfield, and Joshua Lafond (Goffstown, N.H.) drove him in on a sacrifice fly.  Vinnie Eruzione led off the bottom of the eighth inning with a double to leftfield.  Ross Curley moved him over to third base with a single to left, and James Roche tied the game on a sacrifice fly to right.

Neither team scored in the ninth inning, so the game headed into extras with the score knotted at two.  Manzi led off the top of the 10th with a single to right-center.  Lafond then got on base with a bunt single to the pitcher.  Steven Panza (Watertown, Mass.) made it second and third with a sacrifice bunt, and Robert Kelly (Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif.) put the Hawks out in front with a two-RBI double down the right-field line.

The Hawks' all-time saves leader David Giarrusso (Cranston, R.I.), who came in in the bottom of the ninth, now had a two-run cushion to help him through the 10th inning.  However, he started the inning with two singles and a walk to load the bases with no outs.  He then walked James Roche to allow the first run to the Falcons.  Eric Simm (Salem, N.H.) came in to relieve him, but gave up a two-RBI single to Chris Hardy, the first batter he faced, giving the Falcons a walk-off 5-4 victory.

Neil Hesek (Northboro, Mass.) pitched the first 7.1 innings, allowing just two runs on eight hits and no walks, striking out four.  Mike O'Rourke (Falmouth, Mass.) relieved him in the middle of the eighth inning, allowing no hits in one full inning.  Giarrusso allowed three runs on two hits and two walks to take his second loss of the season, and Eric Simm allowed a hit to the only batter he faced.

John Yohe pitched the first nine innings for the Falcons, allowing two runs on seven hits and a walk, with no strikeouts.  Dean Sandonato, allowed three hits and two runs in the top of the 10th, but came away with the win in the bottom of the inning.

The Hawks look to even their season record against the Falcons tomorrow afternoon in the Hawks' home opener at 3:30 pm.