Ryan Berardino
Ryan Berardino

Lynn Strikes Late for 8-6 Win over Bentley; Berardino Hits 3-Run Homer for Falcons

BOCA RATON, Fla. – After junior first baseman Ryan Berardino (Sudbury, Mass./Lincoln-Sudbury Reg. HS) gave Bentley University a 6-3 lead with a three-run homer, Lynn University scored five times in their final two at bats for an 8-6 win over the Falcons at the Lynn Baseball Field Saturday afternoon.

The Fighting Knights, 1-1, got back in the game in the seventh with back-to-back RBI doubles by junior first baseman Trevor Romeo (Cresskill, N.J.) and senior catcher Alejandro Martinez (Tampa, Fla.) making it a 6-5 game.

In the bottom of the eighth, senior second baseman Tom Archer (Fort Salonga, N.Y.) got it going for Lynn with a two-out single to right. Senior left fielder Alec Ojeda (Whittier, Calif.) plated him with a game-tying triple down the right field line and senior center fielder Shayne Fontana (Lebanon, N.J.) gave the Fighting Knights the lead with a two-run homer to left.

After allowing three runs in the first inning, Bentley answered back with two in the top of the second. Junior left fielder Luke Figueira (Taunton, Mass./Taunton HS) led off on a walk and eventually scored on a ground ball back to the mound. Junior catcher Christopher Butler (Danvers, Mass./BB&N) followed with a single down the left field line, scoring senior DH Austin Farry (Watertown, Mass./ Watertown HS).

In the fifth, after junior center fielder Max Troiani (Pittsford, N.Y./Pittsford Mendon HS) scored on a wild pitch to tie the game, Berardino broke the deadlock with a three-run homer to left.

Bentley, 0-2, was outhit by the Knights, 16-4, with half of the Falcons' hits coming from Troiani. Ojeda led Lynn with a four-hit afternoon.

Junior righty Alec Hernandez (Miami, Fla.) earned the win with one-and-a-third innings of scoreless relief.

Bentley will wrap up its trip Sunday with a noon game at Barry University.