MELBOURNE, Fla. – Bentley University senior first baseman Liam Sears (Springfield, Mass./Pope John HS), an All-Northeast-10 honoree a year ago, picked up where he left off, turning in a 3-for-3 performance in the Falcons' 16-5 opening day loss to Florida Tech in non-conference baseball Friday night at Seminick-Hall Field.

 After Bentley took a 3-1 lead into the bottom of the third, the 4-1 Panthers took charge by scoring four times in that inning and another four in the fourth. They broke it open with another four-spot in the eighth inning.

In the top of the first, sophomore second baseman Jackson Walonis (Walpole, Mass./Walpole HS) led off the game by getting hit by a pitch. Following a walk and a strikeout, Sears singled up the middle with Walonis scoring. Two batters later, graduate catcher Charlie Auditore (Walpole, Mass./Walpole HS) singled with junior third baseman Steve Rizzuto (Belmont, Mass./Belmont HS) scoring the first of his two runs.

In the second, graduate left fielder Kyle Halloran (Hopkinton, Mass./Hopkinton HS) reached on a two-out bunt single, advanced to third on a wild pitch and a stolen base, and scored on another wide pitch to make it 3-1.

 Florida Tech's third featured an RBI double by senior third baseman Paul Castillo (Miami, Fla.) and the fourth included a walk, stolen base and run scored by Castillo.

Sears doubled and scored on a single by junior Tim Zupkus (Middlebury, Conn./Holy Cross HS) in the seventh. Two innings later, junior DH Eddy Beauregard (Paxton, Mass./Wachusett Reg. HS) produced Bentley's fifth run with a double to left.

The Panthers' 15-hit attack included three, along with two runs scored and two RBI, from left fielder and leadoff hitter Jakob Newton (Oakville, Ont.). Both Castillo and sophomore center fielder Sam Schner (Boca Raton, Fla.) scored three times.

The two teams will continue their series Saturday and Sunday with action both days getting underway at noon.