Bradley softball (16-19, 6-5 MVC) spent the weekend in Cedar Falls, Ia., battling Northern Iowa before returning home to face Illinois State on Tuesday.
Double-header drama against the Panthers
Friday saw two matchups between the Braves and the Panthers. Batters came to play on both sides, with 29 runs scored.
The first game didn’t see much offensive action until the fourth inning, when senior designated player Abbott Badgley hit a three-run homer to right field. Bradley continued to put runs on the board after a two-RBI double from junior right fielder Kierston McCoy and another homer from Badgley in the fifth inning, putting the Braves up by seven.
UNI answered in the bottom of the fifth with a two-RBI double and a two-run homer, making it 7-4. However, in the sixth, junior left fielder Lauren DeRolf grounded out to send a runner home, and senior pitcher Sydney Kennedy reached on an error, which scored senior outfielder Allie Paregien.
After a tiny scare in the bottom of the sixth and seventh innings, UNI scored on a sacrifice fly and an RBI single, respectively. Bradley still closed out the series opener with a 9-6 win.
After a short break between games, UNI started out hot, with two singles that scored three runs in the top of the first.
Freshman first baseman Olivia Turner singled a shot to center, which helped send junior third baseman Ashley Breeding home. Shortly after, UNI scored an RBI single and a double to extend their lead to four.
There was no more scoring until the fifth and sixth innings, when Bradley tied things up with two RBI singles by senior shortstop Addie Welsh, junior utility player Austin Comstock and a deep shot to center field by Breeding.
UNI pulled away for good in the bottom of the sixth, as a two-run wild pitch, a single up the middle and a walk with the bases loaded helped the Panthers win 9-5.
“I think it was the best offensive weekend we’ve had as a team, and it wasn’t just one part of the lineup,” DeRolf said. “It was everyone in the lineup and everyone on the bench coming in and contributing, [and] I think it showed that we’re able to hit good pitchers.”
Strong overall showing helps Braves take the series
With both teams tied at 1-1 in the series, Saturday’s game would decide the winner.
UNI struck first at the top of the first, and an RBI single put them up 1-0. A half-inning later, the Bradley bats heated up, as Breeding tripled to center and scored on a wild pitch to tie the game.
Later that inning, an RBI single from Welsh gave the Braves the lead. The third inning provided similar results, as Breeding hit a sacrifice fly to left field to bring in a runner, and Kennedy had an RBI single.
With the Braves up 4-1, Breeding added to the lead after an error brought another runner home in the fifth. Soon after, with the bases loaded, Comstock hit another RBI single down the middle, and Bradley ended the top of the fifth, 6-1.
Two innings later, Bradley scored their final run of the game on an error from DeRolf. UNI finally got on the scoreboard again, hitting a two-run homer to left, but by then, it was too little, too late. The Braves secured the win from an impressive four-strikeout performance from Kennedy, 7-3.
“I was really happy with the series; we did a really good job,” Kennedy said. “We hit the ball super well, outhitting them all weekend, so that was great to see. My only thoughts on the weekend are positive, and I thought we had a great weekend overall.”
Redbird defense reigns supreme
Tuesday was a big night for the Braves as they took on another conference competitor in Illinois State, looking to avenge their 6-3 loss against the Redbirds from the previous week.
ISU had no trouble getting the lone run of the game in the top of the first, hitting an RBI double down the left field line. After DeRolf reached on an error and stole second in the bottom of the first, the Braves went three up, three down for four consecutive innings.
Welsh and DeRolf singled in the sixth, leaving two runners on with only one out. Unfortunately for Bradley, freshman second baseman Morgan Schlosser and McCoy were called out on a pop-up and a lineout, ending the inning.
The Braves’ final chance was in the bottom of the seventh, Badgley made it to second after an error by ISU’s right fielder, and Breeding put down a sacrifice bunt to advance the tying run to third with one out. However, Kennedy struck out, and Turner grounded a ball to second. The Redbirds took the victory, 1-0.
“Overall, it was obviously a really tough game, and [it’s] always tough when you’re playing your adversary,” head coach Sarah Willis said. “But overall, I thought the kids fought pretty hard tonight. Obviously, we know we can do better, we know we can put up more runs than that, but [that’s] certainly something that we’ll just keep moving forward with and getting better.”
The Braves remain home for their next few games, hosting Valparaiso from Friday to Sunday and SIU Edwardsville in a doubleheader this Tuesday.
