NORTH ANDOVER, Mass. -- Senior third baseman Mike Dooling (Milford, Conn.) drove in five runs, all before the end of the fourth inning, and was one of five Warriors to have three hits as Merrimack College used two big innings to best Bentley University, 17-6, in Northeast-10 Conference baseball Monday afternoon at the Warrior Diamond.

Merrimack, which pounded out 18 hits, erupted for eight runs in the second inning to take a 9-0 lead and added six runs to its total in the fourth inning. Six of the Warrior runs were unearned, including the final three in the second inning.

Four of Bentley's six runs came via the long ball with sophomore shortstop Logan Gillis (Merrimack, N.H./Lawrence HS) hitting a two-run homer in the fifth and Baggett doing the same in the ninth. It was the first of the year for Gillis and number five for Baggett.

The eight-run second for Merrimack was built on the strength of a double, six singles, two walks, an error and a wild pitch. Dooling and sophomore catcher Beau Batchelor (Peabody) both had two-run singles in the innings.

The Warriors (11-17, 3-10 NE-10) had another seven hits during the six-run fourth inning, with four of the seven doubles. A two-run single to right center by Dooling finished the scoring in the frame.

The other Warriors to enjoy a three-hit afternoon were Batchelor, sophomore center fielder Mark O'Flynn (Ipswich), junior left fielder Tim Curran (South Weymouth) and right fielder P.J. Farnham (Andover).  All five had three hits before the fourth inning was completed.

Bentley (9-20, 3-10) finished with seven hits, including two apiece by Baggett and junior left fielder Mark Lane (Tyngsboro/Tyngsboro HS). Both Baggett and senior third baseman Ross Curley (Lexington/Lexington HS) scored twice for the Falcons.

Freshman Alek Morency (Nashua, N.H.) earned the win for Merrimack following a seven-inning effort in which he allowed five hits and four runs, two of which were earned. He didn't issue a walk and he fanned four.

The two teams will meet again Wednesday at 3 pm at Bentley's DeFelice Field.

At North Andover

MERRIMACK 17, BENTLEY 6

Bentley (9-20, 3-10)       000  220  002  --  6  7  2

Merrimack (11-17, 3-10) 180  600  20x  --  17  18  3

B -Dan Murphy, Andrew Dhionis (4), Sam Cummings (5), Lamarre Rey (7) and Greg Baggett; M - Alek Morency, Steve Chamberland (8) and Beau Batchelor; W - Morency (2-0); L - Murphy (1-4); HR - B, Logan Gillis (1), Baggett (5); 2B - Mark O'Flynn 2, Tim Curran, P.J. Farnham, Batchelor.