The win was the 12th straight for the Ravens, who are ranked 13th nationally in Division II by Collegiate Baseball newspaper. Franklin Pierce remained undefeated in the conference (10-0) and improved to 25-4 overall (23-1 vs. Northeast Region opponents). Bentley dropped to .500 in the NE-10 (6-6) and 10-19 overall.
The Falcons jumped on top first, scoring four times in the third inning to snap Pierce's 23-inning scoreless skein as a team. With the bases loaded, senior shortstop Steve Gath (Reading/Reading HS) tripled to deep left-center and scored the fourth run when the relay throw sailed into the Falcon dugout.
Franklin Pierce battled back to even the game at 5-all with two runs in the fourth and three in the fifth. The fourth inning included junior catcher Matt Anderson (Medford) scoring on the front end of a double steal, and the scoring in the fifth was finished by a two-run single by freshman right fielder Kevin Rivers (Bristol, Conn.).
Bentley had picked up its fifth run in the bottom of the fourth on an RBI single by junior catcher Joe Nardi (West Hartford, Conn./William Hall HS).
The Ravens seized control in the seventh inning, captitalizing on five Falcon errors to score four times. Junior DH Keith Renaud (Southbridge) led off the inning by reaching on an error. He was called out on a pick-off, but then ruled safe when the first baseman dropped the ball on the tag. Renaud stole second, went to third when the ball sailed into centerfield and eventually scored the go-ahead run on a bad-hop base hit to first.
Sophomore lefty Alex Szymanski (Londonderry, N.H.) earned the win for Pierce following five and two-thirds innings of scoreless relief. He allowed only three hits and did not register either a walk or a strike out.
Anderson was the only Raven to have more than one hit, finishing three-for-five with two runs scored and one RBI.
Nardi had three hits for Bentley, with a run scored, and freshman second baseman Charlie Pagliarulo (Medford/Medford HS) had two hits, including a double.
Bentley will be back in action on Saturday with a doubleheader at Pace University, with the first pitch slated for 12 noon. The two teams are scheduled to complete the three-game weekend series Sunday afternoon at DeFelice Field (1 p.m.).
