Julie Slavin
Julie Slavin

Bentley Closes Out Florida Trip on Positive Note, Gains Split of Final Day

CLERMONT, Fla. – Sophomore shortstop Julie Slavin (Rocky Hill, Conn./Rocky Hill HS) and senior second baseman Catie Noons (North Dighton, Mass./Dighton-Rehoboth Reg. HS) each drove in two runs in the top of the eighth, propelling the Bentley University softball team to a 6-3 win over Caldwell College in the finale of the Falcons' 11-game trip to central Florida.

Earlier in the day, the Falcons were no-hit by senior Allie Grys (Portland, Mich.) as Grand Valley State posted an 8-0 5-inning victory.

After Bentley and Caldwell went to extras knotted at 1-1, Palazzolo begin the eighth on second as the international tie-breaker went into effect. Sophomore center fielder Juliana Romeo (Greenville, R.I./Smithfield HS) reached on a bunt single and both scored on Slavin's one-out single.

Three batters later, senior first baseman Jordan Ballantyne (Hopewell Junction, N.Y./ Arlington HS) singled in the Falcons' third run of the frame and Palazzolo followed with her two-run single.

Caldwell (0-1) picked up two runs in its half of the eighth before freshman Lauren Calabrese (Cave Creek, Ariz./Boulder Creek HS) came in for the final three outs, preserving the win for classmate Ashley Keegan (Pittsfield, Mass./Taconic HS). Keegan scattered 10 hits and struck out three while picking up her second victory of the season. Calabrese closed out the game with a strikeout sandwiched around two ground outs.

Bentley's nine hits included two apiece from Romeo, Slavin and freshman third baseman Noa Rivera (Clifton, N.J./Hawthorne Christian Academy).

Gris, in the five-inning game, walked three and struck out nine. She had a commanding lead before throwing her first pitch as the Lakers erupted for six runs in the first inning, including a lead-off homer to right center by senior third baseman Teagan Shomin (Grand Rapids, Mich.).

Grand Valley (10-5) totaled 11 hits with Shomin 2-for-3 with three RBI.

Bentley, which concluded its Florida schedule with a 2-9 record, is due to make its northern debut at home on Mar. 21 against Merrimack.