This Day in Bentley History - April 7, 2018: Dawson Fans 10 as Bentley Doubles Up Pace, 8-4
WALTHAM, Mass. – Junior right-hander Luke Dawson (Stamford, Conn./Westhill HS) struck out ten and was supported by a 12-hit attack as Bentley University doubled Pace University, 8-4, in Northeast-10 Conference baseball Saturday afternoon at chilly DeFelice Field.
The Bentley offense was powered by senior third baseman Mike Samko (Arlington/BB&N), sophomore center fielder Max Troiani (Pittsford, N.Y./Pittsford Mendon HS) and sophomore left fielder Luke Figueira (Taunton/Taunton HS) with the trio a combined 8 for 13 with five runs scored and five RBI.
Samko was three for four with a triple, three runs and an RBI. Troiani also had three hits and he drove in a pair. Figueira hit a two-run homer, his second roundtripper of the season, and also had a single for the Falcons.
Bentley jumped out in front with two runs in the bottom of the first and never gave back the lead. Samko led off with a single to center and scored on a double in the same direction by freshman second baseman Charlie Auditore (Walpole/Walpole HS). After moving to third on a Troiani single, Auditore scored the Falcons' second run on a fielder's choice.
Samko ignited another Bentley rally in the third, leading off the inning on a walk. He advanced to third on a double by sophomore first baseman Ryan Berardino (Sudbury/Lincoln-Sudbury Reg. HS) and scored on an infield single by Troiani to make it a 3-1 game.
Sophomore shortstop Chris Hopkins (Malden/Malden Catholic HS) led off the fourth with a double to right and scored two pitches later on Figueira's homer to right.
RBI singles in the sixth from graduate catcher Nathan Littman (Abington/Abington HS) and Samko made it a 7-2 game and the Falcons picked up another run in the eighth when Troiani doubled in Samko, who had tripled.
Dawson, 3-2 on the season, allowed seven hits, two walks and three runs during his eight innings of work. He moved to third in the conference in strikeouts with 57 in 43 innings.
Bentley improved to 10-12 overall and 4-3 conference while Pace dropped to 12-8-1 overall and 5-4 NE10.