Bentley Fall Report: Falcons Look to Soar Higher Following Record 33-Win Campaign

The 2025 campaign for the Bentley Falcons was nothing short of historic, setting a new standard for excellence in Waltham. The squad shattered the program record for wins in a season , finishing with an impressive 33-15 overall record. Their dominance was even more pronounced in conference play, where they posted a 19-6 mark to secure second place in the NE10 Northeast Division, tying the program’s highest-ever regular-season finish. Despite an NE10 Tournament appearance , the season ended on a bittersweet note, hoping for a regional appearance, in which the team is now using as their primary fuel for 2026. This steady ascent has been masterfully orchestrated by Head Coach Mike Hill, who was named the NE10 Coach of the Year for his efforts. Now entering his fourth season, Hill has guided the program on a linear climb, from 23 wins in 2023 to 29 in 2024 and 33 in 2025, positioning the Falcons as a legitimate regional contender.

The optimism in Waltham is palpable, and for good reason. The Falcons return a staggering amount of production, bringing back 84.5% of their offense and 71.7% of their innings pitched, totaling nearly 80% of their overall roster production. Hill noted that the team had a very productive fall, with all key members of last year's record-setting squad returning fully healthy. With a veteran pitching staff and an offense that shattered records, Bentley is poised to make the leap from a bubble team to a postseason fixture.

The Offense

The Falcons lineup is anchored by one of the most dangerous hitters in the region, Brendan Sencaj. The reigning NE10 Northeast Division Player of the Year and Second Team All-East Region selection by ABCA returns after a monster 2025 season. In 209 ABs, Sencaj hit .411 with 12 doubles, 11 HR, and 67 RBI. His production was elite, ranking first in the conference in both batting average and RBIs, while his 1.147 OPS ranked first in the league as well. Providing serious protection in the lineup is First Team All-NE10 selection Stan DeMartinis, who the coaching staff believes has the potential to be the best bat in the lineup. DeMartinis brings immense power; in 172 ABs, he hit .297 with 13 HR and 50 RBI, boasting an OPS of 1.045.

Depth is a major strength for this unit. Jared Berardino, a Second Team All-NE10 selection, offers reliability and pop. In 164 ABs, Berardino hit .329 with 6 HR and 34 RBI, maintaining a stellar .426 on-base percentage. Nick Pappas also returns as a key run producer; in 158 ABs, he hit .304 with 6 HR and 41 RBI. Another bat to watch is Tommy Bolton, who provided consistent contact and speed, hitting .333 with 26 RBI in 147 ABs.

The lineup gets an additional boost from the return of Hunter Smith. The dynamic center fielder is fully healthy after returning from injury and will transition from a switch hitter to a full-time left-handed hitter this season. With power threats like Sencaj and DeMartinis flanked by high-average hitters like Berardino and Bolton, opposing pitchers will find few breaks in the Bentley order.

The Pitching Staff

On the mound, Bentley boasts a rotation headlined by the NE10 Northeast Division Pitcher of the Year, Pat Heber. A Second Team All-East Region selection by ABCA, Heber is within striking distance of school records for wins and strikeouts. In 77.2 IP, he posted a 5-3 record with a 3.82 ERA and 76 strikeouts. His ability to miss bats was evident, ranking inside the top 10 in the conference for strikeouts.

Complementing Heber is the reigning NE10 Northeast Freshman Pitcher of the Year, Zach Eigenbrod. The staff believes Eigenbrod could be special, and his debut season supports that claim. In 61.1 IP, he went undefeated with a 5-0 record and a sparkling 3.23 ERA, striking out 52 batters while holding opponents to just 6.75 hits per nine innings.

The staff depth has been bolstered significantly by the transfer portal. Evan McCarthy, a graduate transfer from conference foe Assumption, brings veteran stability. Last season, McCarthy threw 62.1 innings with a 3.47 ERA, racking up 65 strikeouts against just 17 walks. Another major addition is Sam Belliveau, a Division I transfer from UMass. Belliveau brings experience from the highest level, having pitched 43.2 innings across 12 appearances (10 starts) for the Minutemen.

The future looks bright as well, with a trio of freshmen impressing during the fall. Caleb Allen, the 87th-ranked player in Massachusetts by Perfect Game, and Dylan Lawrence, a lefty ranked 100th in the state, both look ready to contribute. They are joined by Jack Jensen, the 43rd-ranked player in Connecticut. This mix of high-end returning talent and experienced newcomers gives Bentley potentially one of the deepest staffs in the NE10.

Schedule & Outlook

The Falcons will look to build their resume early, opening the 2026 season on February 6 in Miami Shores against Barry University. The Sunshine State trip continues with games against Lynn University and Palm Beach Atlantic University, both of whom Bentley faced in 2025. These early non-conference tests are crucial; Barry is coming off a 24-win season, while Lynn won 30 games and made a South Regional Appearance in 2025. The Florida swing also includes a neutral-site matchup against Molloy University, a formidable opponent that went 35-19 last year, captured the ECC title, and made an East Regional Appearance.

Conference play will provide plenty of challenges as Bentley navigates the heavyweights of the NE10. A critical four-game series begins March 14 on the road against Franklin Pierce University. The Ravens are a perennial power, having hosted the East Super Regional in 2025 after a 35-win campaign. The following weekend, Bentley hosts Southern New Hampshire University for a four-game set starting March 21. The Penmen remain a benchmark in the league, coming off a 32-win season and an NE10 Tournament appearance.

Later in the spring, the Falcons travel to face Pace University in late March; Pace is the defending NE10 Tournament Champion and an East Regional participant. The regular season concludes in early May with a home series against Adelphi University, another solid conference foe that won 20 games last year.

With a roster that returns nearly all of its production, a pitching staff fortified by impact transfers, and a schedule filled with regionally ranked opponents, Bentley has all the pieces to not only break more school records but to secure the NCAA tournament bid that narrowly eluded them in 2025. Mike Hill has the program flying high, and 2026 looks to be the year they break through the ceiling. If you value this in-depth, non-paywalled coverage of D2 Baseball, please consider supporting our independent reporting efforts. Your contribution helps us continue providing free access to all our articles without relying on restrictive paywalls. To support our work, please visit our Patreon page: patreon.com/diviibaseball