WALTHAM, Mass. -- Sophomore right fielder Lindsey Ayers (Brielle, N.J./Manasquan HS) had five hits and three RBI, and Bentley University received strong pitching from both freshman Tara Fogarty (Chester, N.Y./John E. Burke Catholic HS) and junior Ashley Messina (Hanover/Hanover HS), as the Falcons swept Southern New Hampshire University, 3-1 and 7-1, in Northeast-10 Conference softball Thursday afternoon on its home field.
Bentley, with the sweep, snapped a three-game slide and improved to 15-11 overall (8-6 NE-10). Southern New Hampshire, which came into the day in second place, fell to 10-14 overall and 8-4 in conference play.
In the opener, Ayers broke a 1-1 tie in the fourth, doubling to right-center to score sophomore second baseman Christine D'Amico (Shrewsbury/Shrewsbury HS), who led off the inning with an infield single. Later, Ayers made it 3-1 when she scored on a single through the left side by freshman DH Megan Blier (Wells, Maine/Wells HS).
Fogarty, who boosted her record to 8-4, stopped the Penmen on four hits and struck six, including four in a row at one stretch early in the game. The only run she allowed came on a fourth-inning homer by sophomore third baseman Elena Anderson (Salem, Wisc.).
Ayers was the only Falcon with multiple hits, finishing with two doubles in three at bats. She stayed hot in the nightcap, with three hits, two RBI and a run scored. Her performance in the two games elevated her average nearly 50 points to .292.
Game two saw the Falcons jump on top with five runs in the third inning. D'Amico and Ayers had RBI singles, and Blier drove in three with a bases-loaded double to left. Bentley added two more in the fourth, with freshman center fielder Jasmine Ortiz (Hamden, Conn./Career HS) scoring on an error and Ayers playing senior shortstop Alex Hitchcock (Abington/Abington HS) with an RBI single.
Messina notched her seventh win of the year after scattering six hits. She walked one and also struck out one.
Bentley's 11-hit attack included three from Ortiz, as well as Ayers, and two from D'Amico.
Bentley will be off until Wednesday when it hosts New Haven in a conference doubleheader.
