WALTHAM, Mass. – Junior left fielder Shannon Connor (West Haven, Conn./West Haven HS) had a two-run single in the fifth inning and graduate student Laura McDonough (Braintree/ Braintree HS) had a three-hit afternoon as Bentley University blanked Franklin Pierce University, 5-0, in Northeast-10 Conference Northeast Division softball Friday afternoon at Bentley.

Their offense supported the two-hit combined shutout by graduate student Carly Taitz (Blue Point, N.Y./Bayport-Blue Point HS) and sophomore Kelly Ferris (Seymour, Conn./Seymour HS). Taitz notched her third win of the year and Ferris came on for her third save, setting a new Bentley single season record.

Bentley broke a scoreless tie with a run in the bottom of the fourth. Sophomore shortstop Alex Borrelli (Salem, N.H./Central Catholic HS) led off with a walk, was sacrificed to second and took third on Connor's single up the middle. The ball was misplayed, allowing Borrelli to race home with the game's first run.

In the fifth, with McDonough and senior center fielder Jackie Gauthier (Braintree/Braintree HS) in scoring position, Connor again singled up the middle, driving in both to make it a 3-0 game.

The Falcons picked up two more runs in the sixth inning, with McDonough capping the scoring with an RBI single to right center.

Taitz, in 4.2 innings of action, yielded two singles and a walk while striking out four. Ferris took over with two runners on and retired seven of the eight batters she faced.

In addition to the three hits by McDonough and two by Connor, Bentley's nine-hit attack also included two from freshman designated player Chelsea Vena (Matawan, N.J./Saint John Vianney HS).

Bentley evened its records at 11-11 overall and 3-3 division following its second straight win. Franklin Pierce dropped to 5-14 overall and 1-7 Northeast.

The two teams will be back on the same field Saturday afternoon for a 12 noon doubleheader.