PLEASANTVILLE, N.Y – Facing elimination twice on Saturday, the Bentley softball team beath both D'Youville and St. Thomas Aquinas to advance to the NCAA Regional Final against Pace Sunday.

The Falcons opened the double-elimination weekend with a loss against St. Thomas Aquinas Thursday. Bentley will need to beat the host team, Pace, twice on Sunday in order to advance to the Super Regional.

The first game Saturday was a 4-1 triumph over D'Youville. Kim Saunder broke a 1-1 tie in the sixth inning by coming through with a two-run base hit. Jordan Krause led off the inning with a double, and Maddie Baker hit a single to put runners on the corners. Michelle Diaz came in to pinch run for Baker, and she promptly stole second base.

With two runners in scoring position, Saunders ripped a single to put Bentley ahead, 3-1. The Falcons added another run in the inning when Hailey Feiler hit an RBI double.

Riley Piromalli went the distance in the circle, allowing just one earned run on six hits through seven innings.

The sixth inning was fruitful once more Saturday. Bentley and St. Thomas Aquinas were locked in a scoreless tie through five innings, but the Falcons pushed three runs across the plate in the sixth.

Bella Burke led off with a single, and Carly DiMento hit a double to put two runners in scoring position. Both of those runners came in to score when Jess Morrison smacked a hit through the left side. Morrison wound up in scoring position on a play at the plate, and she came in to score when Krause hit a ground ball to short.

Freshman starting pitcher Maddie Pickett earned the win, limiting the Spartans to one run through 5.1 innings. Piromalli got the save by pitching 1.2 shutout innings.

First pitch between Pace and Bentley on Sunday is scheduled for 10 a.m.