Softball Opens Season Friday With Sights Set On Returning to NCAA Tournament
WALTHAM, Mass. – Coming off the best season in program history, the Bentley softball team begins the 2024 season this weekend with its sights set on returning to the NCAA Tournament in May. The Falcons have six games this weekend in Florida, beginning on Friday with two games against Florida Tech and Chadron State.
The Falcons will face Barry University and Rollins College on Saturday and Rollins and Florida Tech on Sunday.
The 2023 season was a historic one for the Falcons that saw them set the school record for wins (30), reach the Northeast-10 semifinals and make their first-ever appearance in the NCAA Division II East Regional. They defeated Caldwell and St. Thomas Aquinas in the regional before a defeat to Adelphi ended their run.
Entering her 9th season at Bentley, Terry McDonough was named the 2023 NE10 Coach of the Year for leading the Falcons to their outstanding season.
Three players that were named first team All-Conference last season return in 2024. Outfielder Jordan Krause set the school single season record for hits (70) last year, while she batted .424 and hit seven home runs.
Pitcher Payton Doiron is Bentley's career leader in strikeouts. Last season she set the school record for both wins (17) and strikeouts (186) in a single season. Shortstop Sabrina Grizzaffi was also voted first team All-Conference, in addition to being named to the All-Defensive team.
Coach McDonough has the benefit of a senior-laden squad to help the team reach their goals this season. Grizzaffi, along with fellow seniors Samantha Hess and Gabriella Longo, were named team captains.
Senior outfielder Kylee Amato played in all 47 games last season and fellow seniors infielder Lauren Massry, infielder Jacqueline Cupoli and first base Morgan Fraitzl have been instrumental in helping the program rise to where it is now.
In the pitching circle, Doiron is joined by junior Taylor O'Brien who appeared in 20 games and made nine starts last season. Grad student Riley Piromalli joined from Ithaca College where she made 57 career starts with 36 wins and 14 shutouts.
Junior Kim Saunders made seven appearances last season and freshman Breelin McDougal give the Falcons a strong compliment of pitchers.
After this weekend's slate of games the Falcons won't be in action again until the week of March 10 when they head back to Florida for The Spring Games. That trip will feature 10 games over six days in Winter Haven. The home opener is scheduled for March 24 against Mercy and the first NE10 games of the season are scheduled for March 30 at Southern New Hampshire.
The Falcons were picked 4th in the NE10 Preseason Coaches' Poll and they received one first-place vote. Adelphi was voted the preseason favorite, followed by Franklin Pierce and Saint Anselm in second and third place.