EASTON, Mass. – Junior second baseman Julie Slavin (Rocky Hill, Conn./Rocky Hill HD) hit a three-run home run and freshman catcher Ella Hillier (Tualitin, Ore./Tualitin HS) also drove in three runs as Bentley University used a trio of three-run innings to defeat Stonehill College, 9-3, in the first game of a Northeast-10 Conference Northeast Division softball doubleheader Thursday at Father Gartland Field.

Bentley was limited to three hits in game two and settled for a split as Stonehill prevailed 4-1 behind the pitching of junior right hander Katherine Rayner (Milton, Vt.).

After falling behind 2-0 in the opener, Bentley took the lead in the third with its first three-run inning. Junior center fielder Juliana Romeo (Greenville, R.I./Smithfield HS) had an RBI double, Hillier tied the game with a sacrifice fly and junior first baseman Gabby Casalino (Dix Hills, N.Y./West Hollow Hills West HS) drove in Romeo with the go-ahead run with a single to left.

In the fifth, after a single by Hillier and a double by Casalino set the table, Slavin made it a 6-2 game with a three-run homer to left center. It was her first of the season and second of her career.

Bentley broke the game open in the sixth with an RBI single by Romeo and a two-run double from Hillier making it 9-2.

The Falcons' 12 hits included two apiece from the first five batters in the lineup: junior left fielder Stacey Korotsky (Raynham/Bridgewater-Raynham HS), junior third baseman Kaileigh Serafini (Schenectady, N.Y./Schenectady HS), Romeo, Hillier and Casalino. The first three also scored twice.

Earning the win was freshman Elise Pereira (Plainville/King Philip Reg. HS). She allowed nine hits in a complete game effort, did not issue a walk and struck out two.

In game two, Bentley got on the scoreboard first with a run in the top of the first. Korotsky reached on an error, Serafini reached on an infield single and Korotsky scored on a sacrifice fly to right.

Stonehill gained the lead with two runs in the second and picked up insurance with two more in the sixth. The latter two scored on a single up the middle by senior right fielder Taylor Whaley (South Portland, Maine).

Rayner, who improved to 5-7, limited the Falcons to three hits and struck out one.

As a result of the split, Bentley is 2-5 in divisional play, 5-6 in NE10 contests and 9-17 overall. Stonehill, 5-16 overall, is even with the Falcons in the Northeast Division and 2-9 NE10.

Bentley will be at home Saturday for a noon doubleheader against American International.