WALTHAM, Mass. -- Junior catcher Mike Dowd (East Bridgewater) drove in four runs and scored two others as Franklin Pierce University, ranked 15th in Division II this week, ran its winning streak to nine games with a 12-2 victory over Bentley University in Northeast-10 Conference baseball Wednesday afternoon at DeFelice Field.

The Ravens, 20-4 overall and 6-0 in the NE-10, used single runs in the first and second innings to take the early lead and broke the contest wide open with seven runs in the fourth inning.  All seven were unearned as the result of an errant throw on a pick-off, and six of the seven scored after two had been retired in the inning.

A two-run single up the middle by Dowd made it a 6-0 game and senior designated hitter Derek Ingui (Sterling) followed with a two-run double to deep center.

Bentley (6-13, 0-4 NE-10) got on the board in the bottom of the fourth with four straight singles, the first three all softly hit to right. With the bases loaded, freshman DH Dante Padovani (Lynnfield/ Lynnfield HS) hit a slow roller up the third base line. The play was made to home, and junior catcher Greg Baggett (East Bridgewater/ East Bridgewater HS) beat the throw to score the Falcons' first run.

Bentley picked up its other run in the eighth when senior center fielder Chris Hardy (Warwick, R.I./ Bishop Hendricken HS) scored from third after an errant throw on a stolen base.

The Falcons finished with nine hits, including three by sophomore shortstop Logan Gillis (Merrimack,N.H./Lawrence Academy) who ran his hitting streak to nine games. Freshman second baseman Nathan Witkowski (Melrose/Malden Catholic HS) had a two-hit game, but Hardy saw his hitting streak end at 12. He flied out twice, was hit by a pitch and drew a four-pitch walk in his final at bat.

Dowd was 3-for-5 for Franklin Pierce, and freshman first baseman Zack Mathieu (Derry, N.H.) had two hits for the Ravens, who finished with a total of 12.

Sophomore righty Joe Flynn (Plymouth) earned the win for Franklin Pierce, his second in four decisions, after allowing seven hits and one run in six innings.

Bentley will look to get back on track Saturday when it is scheduled to host Assumption in a 12 noon doubleheader.

At Waltham

FRANKLIN PIERCE 12, BENTLEY 2

Fr. Pierce (20-4,6-0)         110  700  030  --  12  12  2

Bentley (6-13, 0-4)           000  100  010  --  2   9   4

FP - Joe Flynn, Nate Sermini (7), Sean Bergeron (8), Ryan Leach (8), Eric Pearson (9) and Mike Dowd, Steve Swingle (8); B - Blaine McLean, Matt Sherman (5), JP Ashline (6), Jeff Croteau (7), Sam Cummings (9) and Greg Baggett; W - Flynn (2-2); L - McLean (1-2); 2B - FP, Dowd, Derek Ingui, Zach Mathieu.