CLERMONT, Fla. – Bentley University sophomore center fielder Juliana Romeo (Greenville, R.I./ Smithfield HS) had two hits in each game, raising her team-leading average to .387, but it wasn't enough as the Falcons suffered two close losses in non-conference college softball Thursday at Legends Way Ballfields.

The University of Bridgeport scored two in the bottom of the eighth of the opening game of the day to prevail 8-7.  In the second game, the Falcons fell to Notre Dame College (Ohio), 4-2.

Against Bridgeport, Bentley battled back from an early 5-2 deficit to take a 7-6 lead in the top of the eighth. Romeo homered to left in the sixth to bring the Falcons within one, and freshman pinch-hitter Noe Rivera (Clifton, N.J./Hawthorne Christian Acad.) had an RBI triple in the seventh to make it a 6-6 game.

In the eighth, after the Falcons' international tiebreaker runner was thrown out at the plate, sophomore shortstop Julie Slavin (Rocky Hill, Conn./Rocky Hill HS) delivered an RBI double to give Bentley its first lead since the second inning.

Bridgeport answered right back in the bottom of the eighth with runner Stephanie Dean (Old Lyme, Conn. scoring on a single by freshman second baseman Elyssa Marmolejo (Rialto, Calif.) to even the game at seven apiece. After another base hit and a fielders' choice, sophomore third baseman Samantha Sabor (Plainfield, Ill.) hit a walk-off single through the left side, scoring sophomore Allison Luzzi (East Haven, Conn.) with the winning run.

Sophomore right fielder Stacey Korotsky (Raynham, Mass./Bridgewater Raynham Reg. HS)  had three of Bentley's ten hits while Romeo and Slavin each scored twice.

Notre Dame built a 4-0 lead with two in the first and single runs in the fourth and fifth. The Bentley Falcons battled back in the top of the seventh with sophomore catcher Jillian Parinello (Jackson,  N.J./Jackson Memorial HS) reaching on a lead-off double and scoring on a fielders' choice. Following Romeo's fourth hit of the day, sophomore right fielder Sami Palazzolo (East Williston, N.Y./Wheatley School) delivered an RBI single, chasing starter and winner Nicole Paolucci (Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio) from the game.

Freshman Mikayla Grajczyk (Toledo, Ohio) took over for Notre Dame (4-4) and quickly retired the side on a foul out and two strikeouts.

Bentley outhit the Notre Dame Falcons 10-6 with two apiece from Rivera, Romeo, Palazzolo and sophomore second baseman Kaileigh Serafini (Schenectady, N.Y./Schenectady HS).

Bentley, 1-8, will wrap up the Florida portion of its schedule Friday with games against Grand Valley State and Caldwell College.