WALTHAM, Mass. – Senior first baseman Morgan Mazone (Selkirk, N.Y./Bethlehem Central HS) broke a 2-2 tie with a two-run single in the fifth and classmate Kelly Ferris (Seymour, Conn./Seymour HS) provided three innings of quality relief as Bentley University edged Franklin Pierce University, 4-3, in Northeast-10 Conference Northeast Division softball Friday afternoon.

Bentley, with its fifth win in its last six games, improved to 8-10 overall, 6-2 against NE-10 opposition and 4-1 in division games. Franklin Pierce dropped to 5-14 overall, including 1-6 conference and division.

Bentley jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the opening inning after sophomore second baseman Catie Noons (North Dighton/Dighton-Rehoboth Reg. HS) reached on a two-out error. Senior shortstop Alex Borrelli (Salem, N.H./Central Catholic HS) made it hurt as she followed with a triple to center and scored on an RBI single to left by junior left fielder Kelsey Kennedy (Bedford, N.H./Bedford HS).

The visiting Ravens tied the game up in the top of the third on a two-run triple to right by senior shortstop Courtney Caputo (Stony Brook, N.Y.) with the first of the two runs unearned.

It stayed that way until the fifth when two of the first three to face FPU reliever Sabrina LoMonaco (Franklin) reached, sophomore designated player Jordan Ballantyne (Hopewell Junction, N.Y./Arlington HS) on a walk and Borrelli on her second hit of the game. After a ground out put both in scoring position, Mazone drove in both with a single to center.

Franklin Pierce senior third baseman Erin Wood (Dover Plains, N.Y.) led off the top of the sixth with a home run to left, cutting the lead in half. But Ferris retired the next six with three strikeouts, two pop-ups and a grounder back to herself to nail down the win.

Ferris, who improved to 4-6 on the season, allowed two hits and fanned four after taking over from junior Kelsey Smith (Jaffrey, N.H./Conant HS). Smith allowed six hits and two runs (one earned) while striking out six in her four innings of work.

Borrelli and Kennedy both had two hits for Bentley, which was outhit 8-7. Sophomore second baseman Samantha Bonvino (Milford) was 3-for-3 with a run scored for the Ravens.

The two teams will be back on the same field Saturday for a Senior Day doubleheader, beginning at noon.