Luke Dawson
Luke Dawson

Dawson Strikes Out School Record 15 as Bentley Completes Doubleheader Sweep

WALTHAM, Mass. – Sophomore right-hander Luke Dawson (Stamford, Conn./Westhill HS) struck out a school record 15 as Bentley University completed a doubleheader sweep of St. Michael's College with a 5-4 game two victory in Northeast-10 Conference Northeast Division baseball Saturday afternoon at DeFelice Field.

In the opener, the Falcons scored three times in the first inning, matched it in the second and went on to record an 11-5 victory.

Dawson's 15 strikeouts bested the school record of 14, set by Brian Dubois against Merrimack a quarter-century ago. Before exiting the game one batter into the ninth inning, he allowed eight hits and three earned runs while walking only one. Five of his punch-outs were looking and he struck out the side in the third.

Bentley totaled a school record 17 strikeouts as sophomore righty Ryan Corriveau (Milton, N.H./Nute HS) struck out the game's final two batters while picking up the save.

The nightcap was even at 3-3 when Bentley came to the plate in the bottom of the sixth. Freshman DH Ryan Berardino (Sudbury/Lincoln-Sudbury Reg. HS) was hit by a pitch to open the inning, took second on a wild pitch, stole third and scored on another wild pitch.

Bentley added an insurance run in its next at bat, making it a 5-3 game, and once again Berardino played a role. Freshman center fielder Luke Figueira (Taunton/Taunton HS) reached on an error and scored a single by Berardino, one of seven hits for the freshman in the three-game series sweep of the Purple Knights.

That proved needed as St. Michael's cut the margin to one in the ninth. Sophomore third baseman Calvin Holland (Hopkinton) led off with a triple and scored on a grounder to second.

Bentley's seven hits included two apiece by Berardino, who is now hitting .405, and junior left fielder Nick Neshe (Waltham/Waltham HS). Neshe staked the Falcons to a 3-2 lead with a two-run single in the second.

Bentley totaled a dozen hits in the opener with freshman second baseman Jake Pierce (East Bridgewater/East Bridgewater HS) leading the way. He was three-for-three with a walk and three runs scored.

The Falcons also received two hits from senior shortstop Justin Ashworth (Orange, Conn./Amity Regional HS) and Berardino, a two-run single by sophomore right fielder Austin Farry (Watertown/ Watertown HS) and two runs scored by Figueira.

Senior righty Jack Burke (Reading/St. John's Prep HS) earned the victory after striking out seven in 8.1 innings of work. David Rivera (Bay Shore, N.Y./Bay Shore HS) finished the game with a pair of strikeouts after the Purple Knights (0-8, 0-8 NE10 Northeast) scored three times earlier in the ninth.

Bentley (4-16-1, 3-1-1 NE10 Northeast) will be back on its home field Sunday for a noon doubleheader against Saint Rose.