Bentley baseball falls to Tampa in opener of double-elimination NCAA Division 2 World Series

The Bentley baseball team absorbed a 13-2 loss to second-seeded Tampa in the double-elimination Division 2 World Series Saturday night at the USA Baseball National Training Complex in Cary, N.C.

The seventh-seeded Falcons (44-15) gave up nine runs in the first three innings, including seven in the third, after starting pitcher Pat Heber allowed eight runs on nine hits and two walks over 2⅓ innings.

Bentley, making its first ever appearance in the Division 2 World Series, will face No. 3 Catawba in an elimination game at 1:30 p.m. Monday.

Junior Brendan Sencaj, a former King Philip standout from Plainville, Mass., provided a highlight for the Falcons by hitting a solo home run over the left field fence in the top of the ninth inning.

Jake Maydak, a sophomore first baseman from Mansfield, Mass, went 1 for 2 and recorded the first World Series hit in Bentley history by ripping a leadoff single to left field in the third inning off Tampa starter Robert Satin.

Bentley scored its first run of the game in the eighth inning when Tommy Goonan and Jimmy Mitchell drew consecutive one-out walks, and Goonan scored on Jared Berardino’s base hit.

Nick Pappas followed by drawing a walk to load the bases, but Bentley was unable to deliver a two-out hit.