Bentley baseball hosting D2 Super Regional this weekend  

Bentley University baseball coach Mike Hill doesn’t always take a text message from a player as a guarantee, but graduate student left fielder Nick Pappas hit the skipper with a statement last Saturday night that Hill just had to believe.

Needing to take two games from Wilmington University in the NCAA Division II East Regional round the next day after falling in the opener of a best-of-three earlier that afternoon, the Falcons leading hitter guaranteed a resurgent performance the next time they took DeFelice Field. 

“When it comes from someone like him, I believe him,” Hill said. “I’ve seen where he’s come from and where he’s at. I truly believed him and so did his teammates.”

That belief turned to reality. Bentley bested the Wildcats in back-to-back games to advance to this weekend’s Super Regionals against Molloy University. Pappas’ RBI double sealed the Falcons victory in the second game after rallying from a 5-0 deficit. 

Ranked No. 8 nationally and on the heels of the program’s first-ever Northeast 10 tournament title, Bentley hosts Molloy in a battle of the top two East Region teams. A best-of-three series, first pitch is scheduled for 2 p.m. Friday and Saturday. If necessary, a third game will be played at the same time Sunday. Admission is free. 

“Being able to come back against Wilmington really put into perspective that we have the ability to come back in do-or-die games, and that our lineup can compete at any level,” said senior catcher Tommy Goonan, who threw out five would-be base stealers across the two wins against Wilmington. “The confidence level is high. We’re ready.” 

The No. 17 Lions (41-10), a member of the East Coast Conference and the league’s tournament champion, advanced through their own regional last weekend. After falling in the first game to Felician University, Molloy topped Southern New Hampshire University and exacted revenge on Felician to emerge. 

Bentley swept Molloy in back-to-back games in early March at the Lynn Invitational hosted by Lynn University in Boca Raton, Florida. They also faced off twice the last two seasons. It’s an advantage in some ways, Hill said, and a stark difference from zero prior exposure to Wilmington in the prior round. 

“Having a little familiarity with at least some of these guys helps,” Hill said. “[But] in the end you’ve got to go play, and you’ve got to go play well.” 

Pappas (.400 average, NE-10-leading 22 doubles and 96 hits) joined five other Falcons on the All-NE10 First Team: right fielder Jared Bernardino, designated hitter Stan DeMartinis III (NE-10 leading 23 home runs), second baseman Curt Heath, center fielder Brendan Sencaj (NE-10 leading 78 RBI) and starting pitcher Pat Heber, the league’s innings leader. Two Falcons each also picked up All-NE10 Second Team and NE10 All-Rookie honors. 

The senior group has set program records for wins in each of the last three years from 23 to successive high-marks of 29, 33 and now 42 and counting. Their fourth year coincides with the first four of Hill’s campaigns at the helm. Goonan said the group bonded quickly, which paved the way for this success.

“These guys have become family,” Goonan said. “Now we don’t want it to end. Each year you’re pushing each other to get better and better so you’re playing into the summer. This hasn’t been a one-guy-saves-the-season year, each game it seems like someone else is stepping up.”

A program legend as a player — class of 2005 — and two-plus decade assistant under Bob DeFelice, Hill took over from his predecessor at the conclusion of the 2022 season. He has been with the program since entering college. 

“The thing that has kept me at Bentley for so long is the brotherhood … something about the place just attracts a certain kind of driven, self-motivated-type person,” Hill said. “I just think these guys have really bought into believing in each other and having each other’s backs. They’re all tremendously talented, too.”