Luke Dawson
Luke Dawson

Bentley Blanked by Merrimack, 3-0

WALTHAM, Mass. – Senior righty Cam Monagle (Cambridge) authored a two-hit shutout to lead Merrimack College to a 3-0 win over Bentley University in Northeast-10 Conference Northeast Division baseball Wednesday afternoon at DeFelice Field.

Monagle, now 3-0 on the season, walked two, struck out four and needed just 86 pitches during the complete game effort. Only once did he allow a Falcon baserunner to reach second base.

Monagle's no-hit bid ended with two outs in the fourth on a single to center by Bentley junior first baseman Ryan Berardino (Sudbury/Lincoln-Sudbury Reg. HS).

Following a walk to junior shortstop Nick Shumsky (Salem, N.H.), senior left fielder Matthew Ronai (Orange, Conn.) doubled to deep left, driving in the game's first run and breaking a scoreless tie.

Merrimack added two insurance runs in the eighth inning. Junior third baseman Joey Porriccelli (Orange, Conn.) led off with a single through the left side, moved to second on a failed pickoff attempt, stole third and scored on a misplayed sacrifice fly from Shumski. Later in the inning, an RBI single from junior first baseman Thomas Joyce (Newton) made it a 3-0 game.

Monagle's effort overshadowed a solid starting performance by Bentley senior right-hander Luke Dawson (Stamford, Conn./Westhill HS). In six innings of work, he allowed only two hits and one run while walking four and striking out six.

Ronai and Porriccelli each had two hits for Merrimack, which finished with seven as a team.

Bentley, with the loss, dropped to 4-12 overall, 1-2 NE19 and 0-1 in the Northeast Division. Meanwhile, Merrimack improved to 9-10, 3-2 and 1-0.

The Falcons will begin a three-game series at Assumption College Friday at 3:30 pm.