WALTHAM, Mass. -- Sophomore righty JP Ashline (Clinton/Acton-Boxboro Reg. HS) pitched seven shutout innings in his first career start and freshman center fielder Sean Keady (Norwood/ Norwood HS) had his first career four-hit game as Bentley University blanked Merrimack College, 8-0, in Northeast-10 Conference baseball Wednesday afternoon at DeFelice Field.

Ashline, who had previously made 21 relief appearances as a collegian, struck out seven, including the side in the fifth inning. He walked two and gave up four hits while recording his third win in five decisions. Junior Matt Sherman (Longmeadow/Longmeadow HS) came in to complete the shutout, allowing one single in his two innings of work.

Ashline was staked to a 4-0 lead in the first inning. Keady led off with a triple to left and scored the game's first run on a double to left center by senior third baseman Ross Curley (Lexington/Lexington HS). After an error, sophomore second baseman Logan Gillis (Merrimack, N.H./Lawrence Academy) followed with an RBI double to right center, senior right fielder Chris Hardy (Warwick, R.I./Bishop Hendricken HS) hit a sacrifice fly and junior catcher Kevin Korwek (Madison, Conn./Daniel HS) provided an RBI single.

It stayed that way until the sixth when an RBI single off the bat of sophomore first baseman Lamarre Rey (Lynn/Pingree School) scored Korwek with the Falcons' fifth run.

Bentley added to its lead in the eighth with a sacrifice fly by junior shortstop Vinnie Eruzione (Winthrop/Winthrop HS) and a two-run single by junior left fielder Mark Lane (Tyngsboro/Tyngsboro HS).

In addition to the four hits from Keady, Bentley's 14-hit attack included three by Korwek and two apiece from Lane and Rey.

Bentley (10-20, 4-10 NE-10) is back in action Friday afternoon with a 3 pm game at Tufts University.  Merrimack fell to 11-18 overall and 3-11 conference with the loss.

At Waltham

BENTLEY 8, MERRIMACK 0

Merrimack (11-18, 3-11) 000  000  000  --  0  5  1

Bentley (10-20, 4-10)     400  001  03x  --  8  14  1

M - Chris Pinette, Keith Johansen (8) and Beau Batchelor; B - JP Ashline, Matt Sherman (8) and Kevin Korwek; W - Ashline (3-2); L - Pinette (2-4); 3B - B, Sean Keady; 2B - M, Mike Dooling; B, Ross Curley, Logan Gillis.