Finneran Named NCBWA Division II East Region Pitcher of the Week; Bentley #5 in Regional Rankings
WALTHAM, Mass. – Bentley University right-hander Rob Finneran (Garden City, N.Y./Garden City HS) was selected as the Division II East Region Pitcher of the Week for games played from Apr. 16-22 by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA). He was previously recognized as the Pitcher of the Week in the Northeast-10 Conference.
The grad student pitched a three-hitter and struck out a career-high 13, one shy of the all-time Bentley record, in the Falcons' 3-1 win over then-number six Southern New Hampshire this past Saturday. After allowing a first-inning run, Finneran retired 26 of the final 28 batters he faced, including 18 in a row at one stretch, in his complete game effort. He walked only one and didn't allow a hit in seven at bats with runners on base.
Finneran, a two-time All-Conference selection, leads the Falcon pitching staff with a 6-3 record, a 2.51 ERA and 65 strikeouts in 64.2 innings, with opposing hitters batting just .220 against him. He ranks number one in Bentley history in winning percentage (.704), ERA (2.92) and strikeouts (216) and will be looking for his 20th career win during this weekend's three-game series at St. Michael's.
The first NCAA Division II East Region rankings of the season were announced on Wednesday with Bentley listed in the number five position. Coach Bob DeFelice's team, 23-20 overall, is 23-11 against regional opposition and is currently in fourth in the Northeast-10 Northeast Division standings.
Southern New Hampshire, who Bentley swept in a three-game series last weekend, tops the rankings, and the other three clubs in front of the Falcons are Le Moyne, Franklin Pierce and St. Thomas Aquinas.
Bentley's next four are on the road, beginning with a Friday matinee and a Saturday doubleheader at St. Michael's.