WALTHAM, Mass. – The winningest season in Bentley University softball history will continue Tuesday when the 24-18 Falcons travel to Worcester to take on Assumption University at WPI. Game time is 1 pm and the contest will be streamed on NE10 NOW (https://portal.stretchinternet.com/bentley/).

Bentley finished in a three-way tie for fifth place in the conference with Assumption and Pace, all with 14-12 NE10 records, but received the seventh seed by virtue of the conference tiebreaker. In head-to-head competition, Pace was 3-1, Assumption 2-2 and the Falcons 3-1.

Assumption swept Bentley just under two weeks ago, winning at Worcester State 9-3 and 6-5. Game two saw the Falcons erupt for five runs in the top of the seventh to go up 5-4, only to see the Hounds answer with two in the bottom of the inning to complete the sweep.

Since then, coach Terry M. McDonough's Falcons have won eight of ten to break the single season record for wins (21), set in 1989 and matched in 2009.

Bentley's regular lineup includes three players who are hitting at least .300 and three others who are .279 or better. Topping the list is freshman left fielder Jordan Krause (San Pedro, Calif./San Pedro HS), who is currently at .394 after being over .400 for most of the season. Her 54 hits are tied for second most in program history for a season and her 32 runs rank third on Bentley's single season list.

Graduate third baseman Kaileen Cain (Hauppauge, N.Y./Hauppauge HS), a .351 hitter with 34 RBI, has broken the season and career home run records. She has eight this season and nine in 43 career games as a Falcon. The third .300 hitter is sophomore right fielder Kylee Amato (Bergenfield, N.J./Academy of the Holy Angels) with a .313 average.

Offensive threats in the lineup also include senior catcher Ella Hillier (Tualatin, Ore./Tualatin HS), junior center fielder Sam Petow (Glastonbury, Conn./Glastonbury HS) and junior first baseman Kaylee Mankins (North Attleboro/Bishop Feehan HS). Hillier reached the century mark in career hits in the Assumption doubleheader and now has 110. Her 39 career extra base hits is the most by a Falcon since 2009.

Senior right-hander Elise Pereira (Plainville/King Philip Reg. HS) leads Bentley in wins and strikeouts after posting an 11-6 record, a 2.73 ERA and 95 strikeouts in 115.1 innings. Her 11 victories is tied for third most by a Falcon and her strikeout total ranks fourth.

McDonough can also call upon sophomore Payton Doiron (Beacon Falls, Conn./St. Joseph HS) and freshman Dahlia Fink (Sherman Oaks, Calif./Notre Dame HS). Doiron is 7-7 with a 2.14 ERA and Fink 5-4 with a 3.00.

Assumption (17-26) is led offensively by sophomore catcher Corin Mahan, with a .336 average and 36 RBI, and freshman infielder Mackenzie Bruggeman, with seven homers. The leading pitcher is freshman Anna Tassone with a 5-5 record and a 2.84 ERA.

The winner of Tuesday's game will advanced to the NE10 championship weekend at Adelphi University and will play third-seeded Franklin Pierce Thursday as part of the single-elimination tournament.

NE10 Softball Championship

1. Adelphi (22-4)
2. Saint Anselm (20-6)
3. Franklin Pierce (17-9)
4. Southern New Hampshire (16-9-1)
5. Pace (14-12) *
6. Assumption (14-12) *
7. Bentley (14-12) *
8. Southern Connecticut (12-13-1)

* Pace, Assumption & Bentley all finished with a 14-12 record. Within the mini-conference, Pace was 3-1, Assumption was 2-2 and Bentley was 1-3. Pace earns the #5 seed, Assumption earns the #6 seed and Bentley earns the #7 seed. 

Tuesday, May 3rd
First Round Games ­
Game 1: #8 Southern Connecticut at #5 Pace – TBA
Game 2: #7 Bentley vs. #6 Assumption – 1:00 pm at WPI
Thursday, May 5th – at Adelphi 
Game 3:  Game 2 winner vs. #3 Franklin Pierce
Game 4:  Game 1 winner vs. #4 Southern New Hampshire 
Friday, May 6th – at Adelphi
Game 5:  Game 4 winner vs. #1 Adelphi
Game 6:  Game 3 winner vs. #2 Saint Anselm 
Saturday, May 7th  - Adelphi
Game 7:  Game 5 winner vs. Game 6 winner