Kevin Korwek
Kevin Korwek

Korwek, Baggett Power Bentley Past Stonehill, 12-4

EASTON, Mass. – Senior catcher Kevin Korwek (Madison, Conn./Daniel HS) had his second four-hit game in four days and senior designated hitter Greg Baggett (East Bridgewater/East Bridgewater HS) homered for the fourth time in four games as Bentley University pounded out 14 hits, including six for extra bases, en route to a 12-4 win over Stonehill College in Northeast-10 Conference Northeast Division baseball Tuesday afternoon at Lou Gorman Field.

Bentley, which recorded double digits in the hit column for the ninth straight game, improved to 19-18 overall, 19-11 against NCAA Division II East Region teams and 4-6 in the Northeast Division. Stonehill, ranked fourth in the East Region, dropped to 23-13 overall and 6-4 in the Northeast.

Two runs in the third, fourth and fifth innings staked the Falcons to a 6-0 game midway through and Stonehill never got closer than four the rest of the way as junior right-hander J.P. Ashline (Clinton/ Acton-Boxboro Reg. HS) limited the home team to seven hits in a complete game effort.

Sophomore shortstop Will Bennan (Locust Valley, N.Y./Locust Valley HS) got it started for Bentley in the third with a lead-off double to right center. On the very next pitch, sophomore third baseman Nate Witkowski (Melrose/Malden Catholic HS) lined a triple in the same direction, giving the Falcons the early lead. Witkowski made it a 2-0 game when he scored on a sacrifice fly off the bat of freshman center fielder Mike Muir (Bridgewater/Bridgewater HS).

Korwek led off the fourth with a single down the left field line and Baggett followed with a blast to left, his sixth home run of the year making it a 4-0 game.

In the fifth, Muir opened with a double to left. Junior second baseman Logan Gillis (Merrimack, N.H./Lawrence Academy), who tripled in the first to extend his hitting streak to 12, followed with an RBI single, and later scored the Falcons' sixth run on an error.

Bentley built on its lead with two runs in the seventh, one in the eighth and three in the ninth, with walks and errors playing a key role in the final two innings. Korwek, who took over the team lead in hitting (.338) from Gillis (.333), and grad student Bryant Johnson (Hopedale/Milford HS) each had RBI singles in the seventh.

In addition to Korwek (9 for 15 in last three games), Bentley's hit parade included two apiece for Gillis, Brennan and junior first baseman Lamarre Rey (Lynn/Pingree School). Korwek scored three runs and Witkowski matched Baggett's two RBI.

Ashline, starting against Stonehill for the third time in 15 days, struck out six and didn't issue a walk while winning for the fourth time in six decisions, with both previous losses coming against the Skyhawks.

Stonehill received a two-run homer from sophomore second baseman Dan Fratus (Plymouth) in the fifth. Junior shortstop Michael Zeiner (Simsbury, Conn.) had two of the Skyhawks' seven hits and senior first baseman Michael White (Lisbon, N.H.) saw his hitting streak halted at 19. Senior righty Bryan Galligan (Brockton) took the loss after giving up eight hits and five runs in four-plus innings.

Bentley begins a five-game homestand on Thursday with a non-conference game against Tufts University (3:30 pm).