Story Links

WALTHAM, Mass. – The Bentley baseball team is ranked No. 30 in the nation when it heads to Pace for a four-game Northeast 10 series this weekend. The series begins with a single game Friday, March 27, at 4 p.m.
 
Talk of the town
Bentley (15-6, 7-1 NE10) is ranked No. 30 in this week’s national poll by the American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA). The Falcons are also ranked No. 1 in the region by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA).
 
Sweep off
Bentley opened its home schedule by sweeping Southern New Hampshire in four games. Three of the wins were walk-offs. The series opened with Brendan Sencaj’s walk-off base hit that scored Chase Mendela for a 3-2 win (March 20). The following day in the bottom of the seventh of a seven-inning game, Jackson Wilburn laid down a bunt with Stan DeMartinis III on second base. DeMartinis beat an errant throw to third base, and he scored easily as the ball ended up down the left field line for a 7-6 win (March 21). The series concluded with DeMartinis scoring on a wild pitch in the bottom of the ninth for an 8-7 victory (March 24).
 
Centennial man
Bentley’s series finale win over SNHU was the 100th career victory for head coach Mike Hill. In three-and-a-half seasons at the helm of the Bentley program, Hill has a record of 100-72 (.581).
 
One of one
Among all NE10 players with at least 25 plate appearances, Stan DeMartinis III leads the conference in home runs (11), RBI (33), and slugging (.788). He had three home runs in the series against Southern New Hampshire.
 
Long shots
There was little doubt that Bentley’s lineup would hit plenty of long balls, but to this extent? Bentley has 38 home runs this season – more than twice as many as the next NE10 team (American International, 17). Stan DeMartinis III (11), Jared Berardino (8), Brendan Sencaj (6), and Nick Pappas (4) are among the conference’s top five home run hitters this season. Bentley is slugging .568 this season, while no other NE10 team is slugging better than .432.
 
Pat on the back
Pat Heber struck out nine batters in 6.0 innings against SNHU last week (March 20). That effort followed his 10-strikeout performance (5.0 innings) at Franklin Pierce, which tied his career high (March 14).
 
Bullish from the ‘pen
Keegan Antelman has been a force pitching out of the bullpen. He is 2-0 with two saves this season. In his last five outings (11.0 IP), Antelman has a miniscule 0.82 ERA with 15 strikeouts.
 
Him-mmy Mitchell
Jimmy Mitchell clubbed his first two home runs of the season in a game against SNHU last week (March 21). His big day included five RBI.
 
Scouting Pace (9-9, 4-4 NE10)
The Setters recently split a four-game series at Franklin Pierce (March 20-21).  Anthony Depetro is the team’s leading hitter (.394), and his nine doubles rank third in the NE10. Eric Santaella (1.64) and Aidan Kempf (2.35) have the top two ERAs in the conference. As a team, however, Pace has a 5.75 ERA.