LAKE BRANTLEY, Fla. – Sophomore first baseman Ryan Berardino (Sudbury, Mass./Lincoln-Sudbury Reg. HS) had three hits, but it wasn't enough as Bentley University fell to Nyack College, 5-4, Sunday afternoon in the opener of the Falcons' five-game trip to central Florida.   

Nyack (4-2-1) struck early with five runs in the first four innings off Bentley junior right-hander Luke Dawson (Stamford, Conn./Westhill HS). Junior second baseman Austin Fischer (Palmbay, Fla.) had a home run in the second inning and an RBI single in the third, and freshman third baseman Matthew Johnson (Plantation, Fla.) gave the Warriors a two-run single in the fourth.

Bentley, after picking up an unearned run in the fifth, drew to within 5-3 with two runs in the seventh. Sophomore shortstop Chris Hopkins (Malden, Mass./Malden Catholic HS) led off with a double and moved to third on a single by sophomore center fielder Max Troiani (Pittsford, N.Y./ Pittsford Mendon HS). Hopkins scored on a ground out by senior second baseman Mike Samko (Arlington, Mass./BB&N) and Berardino singled in Troiani.

In the ninth, two errors brought the Falcons within one, with Troiani scoring, but the Falcons stranded the potential tying run on second base.

Troiani was the other Falcon with multiple hits as he finished with two hits, raising his average to .348 (second to Berardino's .367), and three runs scored.

Dawson struck out seven in his 4.1 innings of work and now has 26 strikeouts in 13.1 innings already this season.

Junior righty Chase Morris (Arlington, Texas) gained the win for Nyack (4-2-1) after allowing eight hits and three runs in seven innings of work. His team outhit the 1-6 Falcons 11-8.

The two teams will meet again Monday morning in a 2 pm game at Rollins College.