COCOA, Fla. – A late three-run rally, capped by a go-ahead RBI single by sophomore shortstop Sabrina Grizzaffi (Ridgefield, Conn./Ridgefield HS), lifted Bentley University to its first win of the season, 4-3 over previously 6-1 Barry University during the Florida Tech Invitational at the Launch Pad Sports Complex.

The win, in the Falcons' fourth game of 2022, followed an 8-2 loss to the University of West Florida earlier in the day.

In the last of the sixth and down 3-1, Bentley loaded the bases with no outs. Singles by juniors Sam Petow (Glastonbury, Conn./Glastonbury HS) and Kaylee Mankins (North Attleboro, Mass./Bishop Feehan HS) were sandwiched around graduate third baseman Kaileen Cain (Hauppauge, N.Y./Hauppauge HS) being hit by a pitch. Freshman second baseman Hannah Smith (Los Alamitos, Calif./St. Joseph HS) scored Cain with an infield single and Mankins came home on a wild pitch to tie the game.

Grizzaffi, like Smith, singled to third and senior Nicole Gravagna (Riverhead, N.Y./ St. Anthony's HS) scored the Falcons' fourth run on the play.

In the top of the seventh, Barry threatened. The Bucs had runners on second and third with one out, but senior pitcher Elise Pereira (Plainville, Mass./King Philip Reg. HS) locked down the win with a pop-up and a ground out. Pereira, in three scoreless innings of relief, allowed just three hits.

Bentley, which trailed 3-0 after three, got one run back in the fifth inning. Smith singled, moved to second on a ground out, took third on a passed back and scored on a wild pitch.

Bentley's seven hits included two apiece for Smith and Mankins.

Both Falcon runs against West Florida scored on a third-inning double by Cain. The RBI were her sixth and seventh already this season.

West Florida regained the lead with three runs in the third and opened the contest up with four in the fifth. Errors in each inning played a major role.

Bentley (1-3) has two more games on Sunday, Florida Tech at 9:30 am and Lynn at noon, before returning north.