Coming off a loss to the University of Iowa at Dozer Park, the Bradley baseball team looked to rebound in a three-game series against Southern Illinois University.
And that’s exactly what it did.
In the midst of a four-game losing streak, the Braves recovered by taking two of three in the series against the Salukis, winning their games on Friday and by scores of 7-4 and 7-2 respectively.
However, they failed to sweep the series, as they dropped the second game Saturday with SIU.
“We played really well on Friday in all aspects of the game: pitching, hitting, timely hitting and played stellar defense,” said Coach Elvis Dominguez. “Sunday we played really well again, so I guess for whatever reason we didn’t come ready to play Saturday.”
The Braves opened the weekend series against the Salukis and needed a late rally to take the first game.
The Salukis led 4-3 going into the seventh inning, when junior outfielder Max Murphy hit a three-run home run to give the Braves a 6-4 lead that they never gave up.
Sophomore Elliot Ashbeck pitched 6.2 innings and gave up four runs on nine hits while earning the win, improving to a perfect 5-0 on the year. The four runs were the first runs he gave up all year, breaking a 24 inning scoreless streak.
“I had kind of a rough first inning; the first two guys got on,” Ashbeck said. “But I got us deep in the ball game with a chance to win, and Max hit the big home run that kinda put us over the edge.”
Saturday was, as Dominguez put it, “the total opposite.”
“We didn’t pitch very well, and we didn’t play very good defense at all,” Dominguez said.
The Braves totaled three errors in game two of the series, were out hit 10 to nine and only got one run off of SIU starter Todd Eaton.
However, game three was a completely different story, as Bradley was in total control from start to finish.
The Braves took that game and the series with the score of 7-2, which was highlighted by four Bradley hitters getting multiple hits and 5.2 shutout innings by sophomore southpaw Cameron Roegner.
While Roegner gave up four hits and walked six batters, he didn’t allow a run and forced the Salukis into two of their three double plays.
“It’s great to take a series on the road,” Dominguez said. “A lot of guys played really well which is really pleasant to see.”
Fresh off of the series win against the Salukis, the Braves then traveled to take on the Cougars of SIU-Edwardsville.
Although the Cougars won the game 6-5, the game proved to have an emotional factor for the visiting Braves.
Following the loss to SIU-E, the Braves return home for the next nine games and start their home stand this weekend in a three-game series against Missouri State April 11 through April 13.
