NORTH ANDOVER, Mass. – A three-run sixth inning that featured a two-RBI double by senior right fielder Kelsey Francher (Weare, N.H.) broke a 2-2 tie and propelled Merrimack College to a 5-2 win over Bentley University in the first round of the Northeast-10 Conference Softball Championships Tuesday afternoon at Warrior Field.

Merrimack, the number three seed out of the Northeast Division, will advance to the quarterfinals while fourth-seeded Bentley finished the year at 20-18.

The day started on a positive note for the Falcons with single runs in both the first and second innings.

After two of Bentley's first three hitters reached on walks, junior left fielder Shannon Connor (West Haven, Conn./West Haven CT) doubled down the left field line, scoring senior designated player Chelsea Tamuk (Port Jefferson, N.Y./Earl L. Vandermeulen HS) from second.

In the second, senior center fielder Jackie Gauthier (Braintree/Braintree HS) reached on an infield single. She was sacrificed to second, took third on a throwing error and scored on a sacrifice fly by freshman right fielder Kelsey Kennedy (Bedford, N.H./Bedford HS).

The lead stood up until the fourth when a two-run single by senior first baseman Jaclyn Giovannini (Plano, Texas) made it a tie game. A single by senior shortstop Ashley Perry (Winchendon), a fielding error and a wild pitch set the table for Gionvannini.

In the sixth, sophomore left fielder Brittany Razo (Anaheim, Calif.) led off with a single to left, Giovannini followed with a double to left center, and both scored on Francher's double to right center. Later in the inning, a single by junior catcher Lindsay Gibbs (Acton) scored Francher with an insurance run.

Merrimack sophomore righty Alexis Perry (Westford, Ct.) finished with a six-hitter to post her 12th win of the season for the 21-19 Warriors.

Connor had half of the Bentley hits, boosting her average to a team-best .315. It marked the third straight year she's led the Falcons in hitting.

It was the final career game for six Bentley players: Gauthier, Tamuk, second baseman Laura McDonough (Braintree/ Braintree HS), first baseman Samantha Tierney (Wappingers Falls, N.Y./ Roy C. Ketchum HS), third baseman Kelly Sanborn (Hopkinton/Hopkinton HS) and pitcher Carly Taitz (Blue Point, N.Y./Bayport-Blue Point HS).