Luke Dawson
Luke Dawson

Auditore Walk-Off Gives Bentley 12-Inning Win over Southern N.H.; Penmen Take Nightcap for Split

WALTHAM, Mass. – Bentley University freshman Charlie Auditore (Walpole/Walpole HS) isn't likely to forget his first career hit as a collegian. It was a walk-off in the bottom of the 12th inning and gave the Falcons a 4-3 victory over Southern New Hampshire University in the opening game of a Northeast-10 Conference Northeast Division baseball doubleheader Saturday on DeFelice Field.

Game 2 was all Southern New Hampshire with the Penmen using 24 hits for an 18-1 victory.

Graduate catcher Nathan Littman (Abington/Abington HS) led off the 12th with a four-pitch walk and was sacrificed to second. After an intentional walk, Auditore singled up the middle, bringing in Littman with the game-winner.

SNHU threatened in the top half of the inning. Junior pinch-runner Kyle Ruth (Albany, N.Y.) attempted to score on a single to left by sophomore third baseman Tom Blandini (Bow, N.H.) but was gunned down at the plate on a throw from sophomore left fielder Luke Figueira (Taunton/Taunton HS) to end the inning.

Bentley took a 3-1 lead in the fifth on an RBI single by senior second baseman Mike Samko (Arlington/BB&N) and a two-run homer by sophomore DH Ryan Berardino (Sudbury/Lincoln-Sudbury Reg. HS).

The Penmen came back to tie the game in the eighth on an RBI single by Blandini and a ground out by sophomore DH Jake Coro (Johnston, R.I.).

Junior righty Ryan Corriveau (Milton, N.H./Nute HS) earned the win with three innings of scoreless relief. He struck out two and scattered three hits after taking over from classmate Luke Dawson (Stamford, Conn./Westhill HS). Dawson struck out eight in nine innings while allowing six hits and three runs.

Samko was the only Falcon who had multiple hits, finishing 2-for-5, while sophomore second baseman Joshua Goldstein (Haverhill) was 3-for-5 for the Penmen.

In game two, six different players had multiple RBI for Southern New Hampshire, including senior first baseman Ryan Sullivan (Hopkinton) and junior right field John Stanton (Sandwich) with three apiece. Graduate center fielder Thomas Buonopane (Peabody) led the team in hits with four and both freshman DH Dakota Mulcay (Goffstown, N.H.) and junior catcher Joshua Zbierski (Stafford Springs, Conn.) homered.

The Penmen (13-10, 3-1 NE10 Northeast) put up crooked runs in six different innings, including a five-spot in the third that made it 8-0.

Junior righty Endy Morales (Holyoke) was outstanding on the mound for SNHU, allowing only four hits and striking out seven in seven innings.

Sophomore shortstop Chris Hopkins (Malden/Malden Catholic HS) had two hits for Bentley, whose only run was scored by sophomore catcher Christopher Butler (Danvers/BB&N) in the eighth.

Bentley (9-12, 1-3 NE10 Northeast) will continue its home stand Tuesday at 3:30 against Merrimack.