WALTHAM, Mass. -- Junior right-hander Tara Fogarty (Chester, N.Y./John S. Burke HS) pitched a three-hitter in the opener, tossed a seven-hit shutout in the nightcap and helped out offensively in both games as Bentley University swept Pace University, 2-1 and 4-0, in Northeast-10 Conference softball at Bentley Friday afternoon.

The game-two shutout was Fogarty's sixth of the year, breaking the Bentley single season record set by Kathy Moran in 1989. The two victories also made her the Falcons' first 12-game winner in 22 years.

Pace (17-22, 9-14 NE-10) came into the day as the conference's best hitting (.333) and highest scoring (6.4 runs a game) team, but couldn't do anything with Fogarty's offerings. She gave up a total of nine hits in 14 innings and allowed only one unearned run, that coming in the first inning of the first game.  

Pace maintained a 1-0 lead until Bentley freshman center fielder Jackie Gauthier (Braintree/ Braintree HS) led off the bottom of the fifth with her first career home run, a blast over the left field fence.

An inning later, freshman shortstop Stephanie Kasson (Hyde Park, N.Y./Franklin D. Roosevelt HS) beat out an infield single to open the Bentley sixth. She stole both second and third, and scored what proved to be the game-winning run on Fogarty's single to right. It was the second hit of the afternoon for the Falcon pitcher, who retired the Setters in order in the seventh to lock up the win.

Game two was scoreless until the bottom of the fourth. Kasson singled to left and freshman designated player Chelsea Tamuk (Port Jefferson, N.Y./Earl S. Vandermeulen HS) followed with a single to center, with Kasson moving on to third when the ball was mishandled. After a hit by pitch loaded the bases and an infield fly for out number two, freshman third baseman Kelly Sanborn (Hopkinton/ Hopkinton HS) drew a walk, forcing in Kasson with the game's first run.

In the fifth, junior left fielder Meghan Carter (Hudson/Hudson HS) tripled to the right-field corner, her fourth three-bagger of the season, and scored on a two-out single to left by Kasson.

Bentley (13-19, 6-16 NE-10) doubled its lead in the sixth inning. Fogarty led off with her third hit of the day, Sanborn reached on an error while attempting to sacrifice and both scored on Carter's single up the middle.

Fogarty's shutout was preserved by a pair of outstanding defensive plays. Gauthier threw out senior Sarah Meleney (Rockville, Md.) at the plate to end the fifth, preserving a 1-0 lead. An inning later, after the first two Setters reached, sophomore second baseman Erica Thibodeau (Cohoes, N.Y./Shaker HS) made a diving catch on a line drive and turned it into a double play.

Fogarty stranded nine runners on base in the nightcap, including five in scoring position.

With Saturday's doubleheader against Adelphi postponed due to the forecasted rain, Bentley will be off until Tuesday when it plays at Merrimack (3:00 pm).

At Waltham

GAME 1: BENTLEY 2, PACE 1

Pace            100  000  0  --  1  3  0

Bentley       000  011  x  --  2  7  2

P - Chelsea Shea and Lauren Bell; B - Tara Fogarty and Megan Blier; W - Fogarty (11-11); L - Shea (7-7); HR - B, Jackie Gauthier (1).

GAME 2: BENTLEY 4, PACE 0

Pace (17-22, 9-14)            000  000  0  --  0  6  3

Bentley (13-19, 6-16)       000  112  x  --  4  7  2

P - Christina Rescigno, Colby Hochmuth (5) and Lauren Bell; B - Tara Fogarty and Megan Blier; W - Fogarty (12-11); L - Rescigno (2-6); 3B - B, Meghan Carter.