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Bradley softball preps for big weekend in Louisville

Photo courtesy Bradley Athletics.

The Bradley offense exploded Tuesday afternoon, as the softball team defeated D-II Illinois-Springfield 8-2. This offensive output came just in time for the biggest road trip this season, a trip to the University of Louisville to face the Cardinals and Miami (Ohio).

All 17 Braves saw action in the win, with sophomore Grace French picking up the win in the circle and adding a three-run home run. All five pitchers pitched at least an inning, giving up a combined four hits while striking out seven.  

Junior Vicki Zaluske was three for three at the plate, adding a double and a solo home run in the fifth inning to cap off the scoring.

“In practice, I had been hitting with a lot of power, and finally it showed in that game,” Zaluske said. “The first two games against Western [Illinois] and St. Louis, I hadn’t been hitting as well as I wanted to, and [the UIS] game I was really seeing the ball.”

Home runs are nice, but head coach Amy Hayes takes pride in quality at-bats. The end result may not always be positive, but a quality at-bat shows progression as a hitter.

“Coach [Rachel] Huggins has done a great job with our hitters over the course of the time she’s been here,” Hayes said. “I think she has a calming sense to her. She’s going to hold them accountable, but she’s been in that box, and she knows what they’re feeling and can really relate to them.”

The biggest test of the year comes Friday when the Bradley Braves take on Louisville in a doubleheader. The Braves last traveled to Louisville in 2018, where they lost twice in the Louisville Classic. 

“Every time we played them it was neck and neck,” Zaluske said. “If we come into this game as aggressive as we did against Springfield, then we have a pretty good chance of winning.”

Zaluske went four for seven in the two games against the Cardinals as a freshman, tallying one RBI in game two. Though it was three years ago, her leadership will provide a boost for the Braves.

Louisville is 3-6 on the season, with doubleheader losses to eighth-ranked Alabama and sixth-ranked Florida. Louisville has played some serious competitors already this year, but they understand this Bradley team is no cakewalk. 

After all, Hayes and Louisville head coach Holly Aprile go back a long way.

“She’s probably the most competitive person I’ve met in my life,” Hayes said. “They have played some really stiff competition and haven’t come out on the winning end, but I know that’s not going to stop her from overlooking a Missouri Valley team named Bradley.”

The Braves will face the Louisville Cardinals on Friday in a doubleheader. The first pitch of game one is at 3 p.m., with the second game playing after the conclusion of the first. Bradley will face Miami (Ohio) to cap off the weekend Saturday at 1:30 p.m. 

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