WALTHAM, Mass. – Senior designated hitter Greg Baggett (East Bridgewater/East Bridgewater HS) and junior first baseman Lamarre Rey (Lynn/Pingree School) had back-to-back run-producing triples in the second and both finished with two hits and two RBI as Bentley University took game one of its Northeast-10 Conference non-divisional baseball doubleheader with American International College, 7-2, Saturday afternoon at DeFelice Field.

AIC came back to earn a split in the nightcap, using a six-run seventh and a total of 18 hits to prevail 12-4. Freshman second baseman Lucas Vallas (East Northport, N.Y.) led the way with three hits, three RBI and two runs scored.

In the opener, senior catcher Kevin Korwek (Madison, Conn./Daniel Hand HS) led off the second by reaching with an error and sophomore shortstop Will Brennan (Locust Valley, N.Y./Locust Valley HS) followed with the first of his three hits. Both scored on Baggett's triple to right center, and two pitches later, Rey brought Baggett home with his triple going to left center.

The Falcons' sixth, seventh and eighth hitters, who were a combined 7 of 12 in the game, also helped Bentley make it a 4-1 game in the fourth. Brennan led off with a single to right, moved to third on Baggett's single through the right side and scored on Rey's single to center.

Korwek had an RBI single in the seventh with a second run scoring on the play when the ball was mishandled in the outfield, and an RBI single by freshman center fielder Mike Muir (Bridgewater/ Xaverian Brothers HS) in the eighth capped the Falcon scoring.

The seven runs was more than enough for grad student Rob Finneran (Garden City, N.Y./ Garden City HS), with the right-hander winning for the fifth time in his last six starts. He labored at times, giving up seven hits and seven walks in his eight innings, but allowed only two hits in 12 at bats with runners in scoring position. He struck out 10, boosting his school record total to an even 200.

Bentley grabbed a two-run lead twice in the second game, scoring a pair in the third and another two in the fifth after the Yellow Jackets (9-12-1) had come back to even the score at 2-2. In the third, Rey scored on a double play and junior second baseman Logan Gillis (Merrimack, N.H./ Lawrence Academy) had an RBI single. In the fifth, sophomore third baseman Nate Witkowski (Melrose/ Malden Catholic HS) and Gillis each delivered RBI singles.

AIC answered with three runs in the sixth, the go-ahead run scoring when freshman catcher Mike Coyne (El Cajon, Calif.) stole home on the front end of a double steal.

The Yellow Jackets broke the game open in the seventh with the first six AIC batters in the inning reaching (three walks and three doubles) and scoring against a pair of Falcon relievers. Vallas and senior first baseman Julian Concepcion (Woodstock Valley, Conn.) each had a two-run double in the inning.

Freshman David Kerlejza (Unionville, Conn.) earned his first collegiate win for AIC despite giving up 10 hits and four runs in five innings of work. Senior Geoff McCowat (Sterling, Va.) and freshman Tom Burzynski (Granville) each provided two innings of quality relief for the Yellow Jackets, combining to limit the Falcon bats to one hit.

Witkowski had three hits and two runs scored for the Falcons, and both Gillis and sophomore center fielder Sean Keady (Norwood/Norwood HS) had two hits.

Bentley, 15-15, will continue its five-game homestand Monday with a 3:30 game against Assumption.