GARDEN CITY, N.Y. – A historic season for the Bentley University softball team drew to a close Saturday when the Falcons fell to top-seeded and nationally-ranked Adelphi University, 4-3, in the finals of the NCAA Division II East 1 Regional on Janet Ficke Field.

In a season that saw countless school records broken, coach Terry McDonough's squad finished at 30-16-1. It was the second straight year they've broken the record for wins with this season's total an increase of six over 2022.

Bentley was powered in the finale by sophomore All-Region left fielder Jordan Krause (San Pedro, Calif.) and sophomore designated player Dahlia Fink (Sherman Oaks, Calif./Notre Dame HS) with the duo combining for seven hits. Krause, 4-for-4 with a school record-tying three doubles, finished the year with a .424 average and the first 70-hit season in program history. Fink's 3-for-4 boosted her season average to .433.

Adelphi, an eye-popping 46-6, did all its offensive damage in the top of the third inning with the big blow a two-run home run to left by freshman first baseman Brianna Fischer (Bordentown, N.J.).

Sophomore right fielder Zee Zee Shreter (Delran, N.J.) led off with a double to left center and freshman center fielder Jordyn Pasqueralli (Levittown, N.Y.) beat out an attempted sacrifice to put runners on the corners. After Pasqueralli stole second, Shreter scored on an infield single by sophomore left fielder Wengryn (Hillsborough, N.J.). Pasquetalli scored on a throwing error and Fischer made it 4-0 with her fifth roundtripper of the season.

Bentley got two runs back in the bottom of the inning. Junior right fielder Kylie Amato (Bergenfield, N.J./Acad. of the Holy Angels) walked and scored on a two-bagger to left center.

After a pitching change, Krause scored on a Panther error.

Still a 4-2 game entering the bottom of the seventh, Bentley staged the final rally of the season. Krause doubled to right center, moved to third on a ground out and scored in Fink's single to right. Adelphi senior Claire Fon (Shrub Oak, N.Y.), who earned the win after entering the game in the third, finished the Falcons with a strikeout and a game-ending ground out.

Fon, who took over for Northeast-10 Pitcher of the Year, improved to 18-2 after allowing six hits and one run in 4.1 innings of work. For Bentley, junior righty Payton Doiron (Beacon Falls, Conn./St. Joseph HS) blanked the Panthers in six of the seven innings. She fanned seven, boosting her season total to 186 and her career mark to 293, both school records.

Bentley had numerous chances to add to its run total but left ten runners on base and was 1-for-10 with runners in scoring position. Both teams finished with nine hits.

Adelphi, which will move on to host Wilmington in next weekend's Super Regional, received two hits from Shreter, Pasqueralli, Wengryn and Fisher.

This was the final game as a Falcon for five starters, including graduate catcher Ella Hillier (Tualatin, Ore./Tualatin HS), Bentley's all-time leader in runs, doubles, at bats and RBI. The seniors are center fielder Sam Petow (Glastonbury, Conn./Glastonbury HS), first baseman Kaylee Mankins (North Attleboro, Mass./North Attleboro HS), third baseman Jess Trahan (Merrimack, N.H./Merrimack HS) and second baseman Katherine Noftall (Ipswich, Mass./Ipswich HS).

The NCAA regional appearance was the first in program history for Bentley.