WINTER HAVEN, Fla. – Two runs in the bottom of the eighth gave the Bentley University softball team a 5-4 walk-off win over Purdue University-Northwest and a split of Monday's action at the Diamondplex. In the earlier game, the Falcons fell to Caldwell, 3-1.

After PNW took the lead in the top of the eighth, Bentley started the bottom of the inning with junior designated player Kaylee Mankins (North Attleboro, Mass./Bishop Feehan HS) on second. She was sacrificed to third, and after a walk to junior second baseman Katherine Noftall (Ipswich, Mass./Ipswich HS), Bentley tied the game on a bunt single by sophomore shortstop Sabrina Grizzaffi (Ridgefield, Conn./Ridgefield HS).

Junior third baseman Jessica Trahan (Merrimack, N.H./Merrimack HS) put down a sacrifice bunt attempt and the ball was thrown away, allowing Noftall to race home with the winning run.

Bentley had tied the game at 3-3 in the bottom of the sixth when sophomore Gabriella Longo (Northport, N.Y./Northport HS) scored on an error after pinch-running.

The Falcons took a 2-0 lead with two unearned runs in the second. Purdue Northwest more than answered on a three-run homer by junior Jocey Gault (West Lafayette, Ind.).

Freshman left fielder Jordan Krause (San Pedro, Calif./San Pedro HS) was the only Falcon with two hits in the game.

In game one of the day, Caldwell scored three times in the second inning. Senior right fielder Emma Cooney (Livingston, N.J.) hit a two-run homer and senior center fielder Lauren Stansell (Plantation, Fla.) had an RBI triple.

Bentley scored its only run of the game in the seventh. Grizzaffi singled through the right side, move to third on a double by Noftall and scored on a ground out by freshman Katie Welch (Monroe, Conn./Masuk HS).

Both pitches turned in complete game performances, senior Mariah Culver (Owego, N.Y.) for Caldwell and senior Elise Pereira (Plainville, Mass./King Philip Reg. HS) for the Falcons.

Senior catcher Ella Hillier (Tualatin, Ore./Tualatin HS) had two of Bentley's seven hits.

On Tuesday, Bentley will play two against West Chester University, with the first pitch slated for 2:45 pm.