WALTHAM, Mass. – Bentley Univiersity sophomore Caitlin Betz (Randolph, N.J./Randolph HS) flirted with perfection Sunday afternoon, retiring the first 19 Southern New Hampshire batters she faced before sophomore right fielder Holly Eicher (Stoneham) broke it up with one out in the seventh with a soft looper just off the glove of senior second baseman Laura McDonough (Braintree/Braintree HS).

Betz finished with a two-hitter and her second straight shutout as Bentley edged the division-leading Penmen, 2-0, in the nightcap of a Northeast-10 Conference Northeast Division softball doubleheader.

Southern New Hampshire (23-11, 14-6 NE-10, 11-3 Northeast) prevailed in the first game in another pitcher's duel, with sophomore Ali Maloof (Norwood) tossing a two-hitter with 13 strikeouts for a 1-0 victory. Senior Carly Taitz (Blue Point, N.Y./Blue Point-Bayshore HS) was the hard-luck loser after limiting the Penmen to one unearned run.

In the seventh of the nightcap, Betz retired Maloof on a grounder to short for the first out. Eicher hit the ball just over McDonough's head, with the Falcon second baseman getting her glove on the ball but unable to control it. A fielder's choice accounted for the second out, and senior second baseman Kelsea Cheney (Abington) singled up the middle for SNHU's second hit. A fly ball to center locked up the victory for Betz, who finished with six strikeouts in the masterpiece.

Bentley (12-23, 7-15 NE-10, 4-10 Northeast) gave Betz the only run she would need in the third. Sophomore left fielder Shannon Connor (West Haven, Conn./West Haven HS) led off with a double, was sacrificed to third and scored on McDonough's single through the left side.

The Falcons added a second run in the fifth inning. Junior center fielder Jackie Gauthier (Braintree/Braintree HS) won a 13-pitch at-bat with a single to left and scored on a double to left by freshman shortstop Alex Borrelli (Salem, N.H./Central Catholic HS).

The only run in the opener was scored in the second. Cheney singled up the middle, and after a sacrifice, senior left fielder Christy Jenkins (Hudson), walked. Freshman designated hitter Mo Hannan (Scarborough, Maine) hit a little dribbler in front of the plate and beat the throw to first. The throw hit her in the back and got away, allowing Jenkins to race home from third with the game's only run.

Bentley, which had just one runner reach second, had a bloop single to short left by Borrelli and an infield single by junior first baseman Samatha Tierney (Wappingers Falls, N.Y./Roy C. Ketchum HS).

Taitz scattered seven hits and had three walks and two strikeouts.

The two teams will meet in another doubleheader at Bentley Monday at 3 pm, with the first a divisional game and the second non-conference.