EASTON, Mass. – Stonehill College struck for three runs in the first inning and held on for a 4-2 win over Bentley University in Northeast-10 Conference Northeast Division baseball action Tuesday afternoon at Lou Gorman Field.

What proved to be the decisive first inning began with junior center fielder James DeAlto (Briarcliff Manor, N.Y.) drawing a full-count walk. One out later, he scored on a double to left center by senior first baseman Michael White (Lisbon, N.H.). Sophomore second baseman Dan Fratus (Plymouth) followed with a triple to right, making it 2-0, and Fratus scored the Skyhawks' third run on a ground out.

Bentley staged a two-out rally in the third to pick up its first run of the afternoon. Sophomore third baseman Nate Witkowski (Melrose/Malden Catholic HS) reached on an infield single and scored on a double to right by sophomore left fielder Sean Keady (Norwood/Norwood HS).

The Falcons made it a 3-2 game with an unearned run in the fourth inning. Junior second baseman Logan Gillis (Merrimack, N.H./Lawrence Academy) reached second on a two-base error, stole third and scored on a grounder to second by senior catcher Kevin Korwek (Madison, Conn./Daniel Hand HS).

Bentley had a great opportunity in the sixth when Gillis and grad student Bryant Johnson (Hopedale/Milford HS) opened the inning with back-to-back singles. Following a sacrifice, Stonehill brought the infield in and the move paid off in an inning-ending double play.

Stonehill added an insurance run in the bottom of the same inning. Sophomore right fielder Billy Karalis (Pawtucket, R.I.) led off with a triple to right center and scored on a sacrifice fly by freshman third baseman Dan Pidgeon (Darien, Conn.).

Sophomore lefty Zach Soulier (Milford, Conn.) pitched the first 6.1 innings for Stonehill, allowing six hits and two runs while pushing his record to 4-0 and lowering his ERA to 1.67. White came on from first base to close, retiring eight of the nine batters he faced with three strikeouts.

Junior righty JP Ashline (Clinton/Acton-Boxboro Reg. HS) went the distance for the Falcons, Bentley's eighth complete game in the last nine contests. He was charged with his first loss of the spring after allowing five hits with four walks and two strikeouts.

Bentley's seven hits including two doubles by Keady and both a single and double by sophomore shortstop Will Brennan (Locust Valley, N.Y./Locust Valley HS).

Bentley, with the loss, dropped to 14-14 overall, 14-7 against NCAA Division II East Region opposition and 2-3 in the Northeast Division. Stonehill, ranked fourth in the East, improved to 19-9 overall and 4-1 in the Northeast.

Bentley will be back in action Saturday with a home doubleheader against American International.