RINDGE, N.H. – Sophomore center fielder Kelsey Kennedy (Bedford, N.H./Bedford HS) drove in four runs with three extra base hits in the opener and junior shortstop Alex Borrelli (Salem, N.H./ Central Catholic HS) had two RBI in the nightcap as Bentley University swept Franklin Pierce University, 8-5 and 3-1, in Northeast-10 Conference Northeast Division softball Saturday afternoon at the Bisaccia Complex.

The opener saw the Falcons rally from a 5-2 deficit with six runs in the top of the seventh inning. The frame started with sophomore first baseman Morgan Mazone (Selkirk, N.Y./Bethlehem Central HS), freshman designated player Jordan Ballantyne (Hopewell Junction, N.Y./Arlington HS) and junior catcher Jill Raia (Montville, N.J./Morristown Beard School) all reaching, on a walk, a fielder's choice in which no one was retired and a bunt single.

A single up the middle by sophomore third baseman Katelyn Lebreux (Biddeford, Maine/ Biddeford HS) cut the Raven lead to 5-3, another off the bat of sophomore right fielder Chelsea Vena (Matawan, N.J./Saint John Vianney HS) made it a one-run game and Kennedy doubled down the left field line to turn the one-run deficit into a 6-5 advantage.

After a walk, a single to left by freshman second baseman Catie Noons (North Dighton, Mass./ Dighton-Rehoboth HS) brought in two insurance runs, making it a three-run lead.

That was the second time in the game that Kennedy (two doubles and a triple in four at bats) had given the Falcons the lead. Back in the third, with Lebreux and Vena on base following a double and single, she tripled to put Bentley up 2-1.

The lead didn't last long as Franklin Pierce answered with four in the bottom half of the third.

Sophomore Kelsey Smith (Jaffrey, N.H./Conant HS) earned the win for Bentley with five innings of two-hit, one-run relief that saw her strike out four. The Falcons' 11 hits included three by Vena, in addition to Kennedy's three.

Smith also played a role in game two, this time with her bat. In the fourth, with the score even at 1-1, senior left fielder Shannon Connor (West Haven, Conn./West Haven HS) led off with a single up the middle. She was sacrificed to second, took third on an infield single by Mazone and scored what proved to be the winning run on Smith's sacrifice fly to center.

Bentley picked up an insurance run in the seventh and again, Smith was involved. She doubled down the right field line and after Ballantyne came in to run for her, Borrelli delivered an RBI single up the middle.

Junior lefty Kelly Ferris (Seymour, Conn./Seymour HS) went the distance for Bentley in the center circle, giving up six hits and one run. Franklin Pierce (5-14, 5-10 NE-10 Northeast) threatened in the bottom of the seventh with runners on first and second before Ferris closed the door.

Bentley, 7-14 overall and 4-8 NE-10 Northeast, begins a three-game series at St. Michael's with a 3:00 game Sunday afternoon.