Bentley Falcons baseball captures first-ever NE10 championship 

For the first time in program history, Bentley Falcons baseball are Northeast-10 champions. The second-seeded Falcons defeated the top-seeded Southern New Hampshire Penmen, 11-9, on Sunday to complete an unbeaten 3-0 run through the NE10 Championship tournament. They end the regular season with a record of 39-13.

Infielder Nick Pappas was named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player after going 6-for-14 with a home run, four runs scored, and three RBI across Bentley’s three postseason victories.

On the mound, Waltham’s Sam Belliveau earned the win with 5.2 strong innings, allowing just three hits and no earned runs. Relief pitcher Evan McCarthy was dominant out of the bullpen, retiring hitters through the eighth inning after entering in the sixth.

Bentley appeared in full control with an 11-4 lead entering the ninth, but SNHU mounted a late comeback. A walk, a hit batter and an error loaded the bases before the Penmen connected on a grand slam to cut the deficit to three. That brought pitcher Keegan Antelman out of the bullpen, and he responded by striking out two batters before inducing a game-ending flyout to secure the historic victory.

With the championship victory, Bentley earned the program’s first-ever automatic bid to the NCAA Division II Baseball Championship, marking the Falcons’ first appearance in the national tournament. 

The NCAA Division II Baseball Selection Show is scheduled for Sunday, May 10, at 10:30 p.m.