THE BASICS:

-Score: Assumption 4, Bentley 3

-Records: Assumption (15-20, 12-10 NE-10), Bentley (12-19, 10-10 NE-10)

-Location: Waltham, Mass. (Bentley Field)

-The Lead: Led by a three-RBI performance from senior captain Kayli Moniz (Fairhaven, Mass. / Fairhaven), the Assumption College softball team completed its series sweep of Bentley with a 4-3 victory on Tuesday afternoon on the road. With the win, the Hounds clinch their second straight Northeast-10 Playoff berth.

HOW IT HAPPENED 

-The Hounds got out to a 2-0 lead in the top of the first when Moniz blasted a two-run homer over the left field fence with just one out.

-Bentley reduced the deficit to one in the bottom of the fourth. With one out, Alex Borrelli tripled and scored on a sacrifice fly by Kelsey Smith to make it 2-1 Hounds.

-In the top of the fifth, two Hounds went down early in a double play before Moniz singled to left field. She advanced to second as the Falcons attempted to put out freshman Amanda Voellings (Grafton, Mass. / Grafton) at home. The attempt was unsuccessful as Moniz registered her third RBI, advanced to second, and Voellings crossed the plate, 3-1 Assumption.

-Moniz scored in the frame when sophomore Stephanie Menard (Cranston, R.I. / Cranston HS West) reached base on error for the 4-1 advantage.

-Bentley attempted a comeback in the bottom of the fifth, plating two runs on three hits including a double, but the two-out rally was not enough and concluded the day's scoring 4-3.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS 

-Moniz led the Hound offense with three RBI and two runs scored while going 2-for-4 at the plate. 

-Also posting two hits on the day were sophomore Nicole Duplease (Leominster, Mass. / Leominster) and senior Christina Caira (Newton, Mass. / Newton North). One of Caira's hits was a triple.

-Sophomore Kendal Roy (Grafton, Mass. / Grafton) went the distance in the circle, pitching all seven innings while scattering eight hits and striking out three batters. Roy improves to 12-6 on the season with the victory and did not walk a single batter.

-Bentley's Kelly Farris falls to 8-11 allowing eight hits and three earned runs in 4.2 innings before being replaced by Kelsey Smith for the final 2.1. Smith did not allow a hit in her time in the circle.

-Overall, the squads emerged fairly even in team statistics, each posting eight hits, three strikeouts and six runners left on base. 

BEHIND THE BOX SCORE 

-Moniz's home run in the top of the first marks her fifth of the season, her second in just three games. She has also registered multi-hit games in her last three contests. 

-Moniz and Caira are currently tied for the team lead with five home runs apiece. The pair are just two homers away from cracking into the top 10 in the Assumption record book.

-The Hounds clinch their second straight Northeast-10 Playoff berth with the victory and currently post a 12-6 record in the Northeast Division, tied for second place. Assumption waits to determine if they will host or travel on Tuesday, April 26, for the first round.

HOUNDS IN THE NATION

-Assumption is ranked 34th in the nation in doubles per game (1.62).

-Roy is currently ranked 16th in the country in walks allowed per seven innings (0.80).

-Moniz is currently tied for 23rd in the nation in sacrifice flies (4).

-Junior Ashley Clark (Pawtucket, R.I. / William E. Tolman) is currently ranked 27th in the country in doubles per game (0.36).

UP NEXT:

-Assumption will wrap up its regular-season competition this weekend as they host Saint Anselm for a three-game series. The Hounds and the Hawks will play their first game on Friday at Marois Field at 4 p.m. before a doubleheader beginning at 12:30 p.m. on Saturday.

-Following the weekend's competition, the Hounds will begin post-season play on Tuesday, April 26. Time and place are to be determined.

STAY CONNECTED:

-For the latest on Assumption College Athletics, follow the Hounds via social media on Twitter, Facebook and YouTube. For more information, contact the Office of Athletic Communications at 508-767-7240. 

-Fans can also sign up for email updates and text message alerts for the women's softball team and all of the other 23 Assumption varsity sports by clicking here.