WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – The Bentley baseball team nearly erased a four-run deficit in the ninth inning, but the Falcons' rally came up short at Palm Beach Atlantic, 4-3, Saturday.

Bentley entered the top of the ninth inning in a 4-0 hole, but it loaded the bases with no outs on the board. Tommy Bolton and Hunter Smith led off the inning by drawing consecutive walks, and Tim Zupkus followed with a single.

With the bases full, Steve Rizzuto drew a walk to plate Bentley's first run of the game. Two batters later, Cory Bright singled to centerfield, allowing Smith to easily score and cut the deficit in half, 4-2. The bases remained loaded with one out for Jackson Walonis, who lifted a sac fly to centerfield to make it a 4-3 game. However, Bentley was unable to plate the tying run.

Steve Hardiman was solid in his first start of the season on the mound for the Falcons. He allowed only one earned run on four hits and three walks through five innings of work.

The Falcons conclude their season-opening Florida trip at Barry Sunday, Feb. 11, at 11 a.m.