WINTER PARK, Fla. – Senior Sean Hayden (Haverhill, Mass.) allowed just one earned run over 6.2 innings, but the Saint Anselm College baseball team was edged by Bentley University, 3-2, in non-conference action Friday afternoon at Alfond Stadium.

The Hawks drop to 3-7 on the season, while the Falcons improve to 1-7.

Bentley struck first, plating three in the top of the third. A Logan Gillis RBI single that scored Mark Lane, who had doubled down the right field line with one out, started it for the Falcons. Then with two out, Nate Witkowski made the Hawks pay for an error two batters earlier as he doubled home a pair that made it 3-0.

Saint Anselm answered with two in the bottom of the inning as junior Richie Manzi (Plymouth, N.H.) got things started with a single to right and was followed by sophomore Tito Lluberes (Lawrence, Mass.), who walked. Junior Andrew Chandler (Westford, Mass.) then dropped down a sac bunt looking to advance the runners, but a throwing error allowed both Manzi and Lluberes to score.

The pitching for both teams would shut down the opposition the rest of the way. The Hawks would get the tying run to third with one out in the ninth, but could not push it across the plate.

Hayden gave up three runs – one earned – on eight hits, while striking out six and walking two. Sophomore Zachary Brian (Stoneham, Mass.) walked the only batter he faced in relief, while freshman David Kent (N. Falmouth, Mass.) worked the final 2.1 innings, allowing just one hit and striking out three.

Manzi was 2-for-3 and scored a run. Sophomore Nate Gonya (Wolfeboro, N.H.) went 1-for-3, while senior Daniel DeCoste (Chelmsford, Mass.) and sophomore Dan Lagasse (Londonderry, N.H.) each went 1-for-4.

The Hawks return to action Saturday, March 3 in doubleheader action at Rollins College. The Hawks play Bentley at 11 a.m. before wrapping up their Florida trip against Assumption College at 5 p.m.