Ashley Keegan
Ashley Keegan

Keegan Pitches Shutout against Dominican; Bentley Falls Short against IUP in 2nd Game

KISSIMMEE, Fla. – Sophomore Ashley Keegan (Pittsfield, Mass./Taconic HS) pitched a five-inning shutout as the Bentley University softball team rolled to a 9-0 victory over Dominican College (N.Y.) in the first of two games on its final day the Spring Games Friday at the Fortune Road Softball Complex.

The Falcons also had plenty of scoring opportunities in its second game but stranded 13 runners in a 2-1 loss to Indiana University (Pa.).

Against Dominican, Keegan limited the Chargers to three hits while striking out four and walking one. The victory was her third in as many decisions this season.

Her teammates staked her to an early lead with seven runs in the second inning. Junior second baseman Kaileigh Serafini (Schenectady, N.Y./Schenectady HS) drew a bases loaded walk, junior left fielder Stacey Korotsky (Raynham, Mass./Bridgewater-Raynham HS) drove in a runner from third with a bunt single and the inning was capped off by a two-run homer to center, the first of her career, by freshman designated player Elise Pereira (Plainville, Mass./King Philip Reg. HS).

Bentley picked up two more runs in the fourth on a two-run single by sophomore shortstop Montana Joyce (Marblehead, Mass./Marblehead HS).

Joyce and junior first baseman Gabby Casalino (Dix Hills, N.Y./Half Hollow Hills West HS) each had two of the Falcons' nine hits.

In the second game, IUP broke a 1-1 tie with a run in the bottom of the fifth inning. Freshman left fielder Bethany Bunne (Hunker, Pa.) reached on a one-out error, stole both second and third and scored on a single through the left side by sophomore right fielder Rachel Rodriguez (Roseland, N.J.).

The only other runs in the game were scored in the first inning with a pair of freshmen involved in the Bentley run. Catcher Ella Hillier (Tualitin, Ore./Tualitin HS) singled to left, stole second and scored on Pereira's single to center.

Hillier had two hits and Pereira was the hard-luck loser after giving up five runs and striking out four in five innings.

Bentley, 4-11 overall, completed the 12-game week with a 4-8 record. The Falcons are scheduled to play their Northeast-10 Conference opener Wednesday at Stonehill.