WORCESTER, Mass. – Sophomore right-hander Halley McDevitt (San Ramon, Calif./San Ramon Valley HS) pitched six strong innings and also helped out with her bat as Bentley University captured the opening game of the doubleheader 5-1 in Northeast-10 Conference Northeast Division softball Thursday afternoon at Marois Field.

McDevitt, in addition to limiting the Hounds to four hits and one run over six innings, had a two-run double in the second inning, a single to lead off the fifth and a run scored in the seventh.

Assumption came back in the nightcap, 7-3, to earn a split of the twinbill. The outcomes left Bentley at 14-13 overall and 6-5 in divisional contests. The Greyhounds improved to 11-18 overall and 4-10 in the Northeast.

After two walks set the table, a two-out single to short by senior third baseman Kelly Sanborn (Hopkinton/Hopkinton HS) brought in classmate and first baseman Samantha Tierney (Wappingers Falls, N.Y./Roy C. Ketchum HS) from second with the game's first run. McDevitt followed with a double to left center, driving in two to make it a 3-0 game.

Assumption, limited to one hit by McDevitt over the first five innings, had three in the sixth with an RBI single by junior first baseman Ashley impagliazzo (Glocester, R.I.) driving in the Hounds' only run of the game.

Bentley added a pair of insurance runs in the seventh, both scoring on a pinch-hit double by freshman Chelsea Vena (Matawan, N.J./Saint John Vianney HS).

Sophomore Kelly Ferris (Seymour, Conn./Seymour HS) closed out the game from the center circle for Bentley, the sixth straight game she's pitched in relief. She gave up only one hit while lowering her ERA to 1.91. The win was the third for McDevitt in six decisions.

In addition to McDevitt, Tierney and junior left fielder Shannon Connor (West Haven, Conn./ West Haven HS) had two hits for the Falcons.

In game two, Bentley jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the top of the first with Vena, after a lead-off single, scoring on a single through the left side by sophomore shortstop Alex Borrelli (Salem, N.H./ Central Catholic HS).

Assumption took control with four unearned runs in the second inning and pulled away with a three-run double by freshman second baseman Ashley Abad (Bedford, N.H.).

Bentley came back with a pair of unearned runs in the seventh inning , with Borrelli picking up her second RBI and Vena her second hit of the game.  Sophomore catcher Jill Raia (Montville, N.J./ Morristown-Beard School) also had two hits for the Falcons.

Bentley is back in action Friday with a single game at Southern New Hampshire (4 pm).