WALTHAM, Mass. – After completing the regular season at 9-15, the Bentley University Falcons will travel to Manchester, N.H. to take on Southern New Hampshire University Tuesday at 4 pm in the opening round of the 2021 Northeast-10 Conference Softball Championships. The game can be viewed live on the NE10 NOW digital network (portal.stretchinternet.com/Bentley).

Bentley garnered the number five seed out of the Northeast Division while Southern New Hampshire, with a 12-12 record, is the fourth seed.

The winner of Tuesday's game will also be in Manchester on Thursday to face top-seeded Saint Anselm College in the divisional semifinals.

The Falcons and Penmen squared off less than two weeks ago with SNHU taking three of four during a weekend series April 24-25. The only Bentley win came in the first meeting, 5-3, with both freshman Kylee Amato (Bergenfield, N.J./Acad. of the Holy Angels) and sophomore center fielder Sam Petow (Glastonbury, Conn./ Glastonbury HS) driving in two runs. Freshman Payton Doiron (Beacon Falls, Conn./St. Joseph HS) saved the game for senior Melissa Landry (Chathan, N.J./Chatham HS), who provided 2.1 quality innings of relief.

Bentley's top hitter in the series was junior catcher Ella Hillier (Tualatin, Ore./Tualatin HS), who was 5-for-13 with four runs scored, two doubles and an RBI.

Hillier (.333) and Amato (.333) are two of the four .300 hitters on coach Terry McDonough's team. Hillier, whose 13 extra base hits include nine doubles, has scored a team-high 16 runs and has 11 RBI.

Sophomore first baseman Kaylee Mankins (North Attleboro/Bishop Feehan HS) leads the team in the triple crown categories with a .344 average, four home runs and 21 RBI.  Graduate left fielder Stacey Korotsky (Raynham/Bridgewater-Raynham HS), number two on Bentley's all-time hit list (152), has a .325 average while batting in the number two slot in the order.

Bentley's top two pitchers have been Doiron and junior Elise Pereira (Plainville/King Philip Reg. HS). Doiron, coming off a one-hit shutout of Assumption, is 4-5 with a 3.68 ERA. Pereira (3-6, 3.74) has two shutouts, two-hitters against St. Michael's and Assumption.

Among the key players for Southern New Hampshire is Chloe Griffin, who leads the team in wins (8-4) and has a 3.03 ERA from the center circle. She also bats .345 with 15 runs and 13 RBI.

In accordance with conference policies, no spectators will be allowed (SNHU attendance policies).

NE10 Tournament Schedule

Tuesday, May 4th (Single Elimination)
Divisional First Round Games - Northeast­
Game 1NE: #5NE Bentley at #4NE SNHU, 4pm
Game 2NE: #6NE Saint Michael's at #3NE Assumption, 4pm
Game 3NE #7NE Stonehill at #2NE Franklin Pierce, 3pm

Divisional First Round Games - Southwest
Game 1SW: #5SW Pace at #4SW Le Moyne, 3pm
Game 2SW: #6SW AIC at #3SW Southern Connecticut, 3pm
Game 3SW: #7SW Saint Rose at #2SW New Haven, 3pm

Thursday, May 6th (Single Elimination)
Divisional Semifinals – Northeast
Game 4NE: Game 1NE Winner at #1NE Saint Anselm, 3pm
Game 5NE: Game 2NE Winner vs Game 3NE Winner (at highest remaining seed)

Divisional Semifinals – Southwest
Game 4SW: Game 1SW Winner at #1SW Adelphi, 3pm
Game 5SW: Game 2SW Winner vs. Game 3SW Winner (at highest remaining seed)

Sunday-Monday, May 9th-10th
Divisional Finals (Best of three series) – Northeast
Sunday: Games 6NE & 7NE: Game 4NE Winner vs. Game 5NE Winner (at highest remaining seed)
Monday: Game 8NE (if necessary)

Divisional Finals (Best of three series) – Southwest
Sunday: Games 6SW & 7 SW: Game 4SW Winner vs. Game 5SW Winner (at highest remaining seed)
Monday: Game 8SW (if necessary)

Friday-Saturday May 14th-15th
Championship Final (Best of three series)
Friday: Games 1 & 2: NE Divisional Winner vs. SW Divisional Winner (at highest remaining seed)
Saturday: Game 3 (if necessary)

Highest Remaining Seed will host the Championship Final.