MANCHESTER, N.H. – Bentley University scored single runs in its final three at-bats to defeat the Saint Anselm College softball team 3-1 in Northeast-10 action on Friday afternoon at South Athletic Fields.
Box Score
Saint Anselm (9-22, 5-13 NE-10) got out to an early 1-0 lead in the first inning and outhit Bentley (12-15, 10-6 NE-10) by an 8-7 margin in the game. However, the Falcons took advantage of three errors to score two unearned runs to come away with the win.
The Hawks had three of their eight hits in the first inning to take a 1-0 lead in the early stages. After Amanda Bickford singled and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt, Megan Murrell smacked a run-scoring double to left-center field to score Bickford.
Three batters later, Shannon McLaughlin singled through the right side but right fielder Jordan Ballantyne threw Murrell out at the plate to end the inning.
The score remained 1-0 until the top of the fifth, although both teams had threats to score in the third. Bentley left runners at the corners in the top of the inning and Saint Anselm stranded two runners in the bottom of the frame.
In the fifth, the Falcons tied the game behind four consecutive singles. Catie Noons singled to right on the third of the four singles to score Katelyn Lebreux, as part of a 3-for-4, two RBI performance.
Bentley added a run in the sixth on a groundout by Stephanie McQuaid and one more in the seventh on a RBI double by Noons. Both runs scored after the first batter in the inning reached on an error.
Kelly Ferris evened her record at 8-8 by scattering eight hits in a complete game for Bentley. Ferris walked one and struck out two. Arika Brochu allowed three runs (one earned) on seven hits in seven innings for the Hawks.
Bickford and Pattie Turner each had a pair of hits for Saint Anselm, while Jill Raia had two knocks for Bentley.
The two teams return to South Athletic Fields for a doubleheader on Saturday, April 16 on Senior Day for the Hawks. First pitch is scheduled for noon.
