It’s been a tough stretch for Bradley baseball as of late after the team played a grueling seven games in nine days. A four-game trip to Auburndale, Florida over spring break provided an opportunity for the Braves (5-11) to right the ship, but after going 1-3 during the stretch, the team is looking for answers.
WHO:
The Braves’ charge started with a 7-5 loss versus Fairfield (5-8) last Tuesday, with sophomore pitcher Taylor Catton (1-1) taking the loss with 4.1 innings of work, striking out nine but giving up seven hits and five runs – two of them earned.
The Braves outhit the Stags 13-11, highlighted by sophomore center fielder Ryan Vogel’s 2-3 appearance at the dish.
On the following Friday, the Braves snapped out of a cold stretch, in which they lost five out of six, by exploding past Dartmouth (4-8) by a score of 20-6.
Freshman pitcher Jacob Kisting (3-1) earned the win, pitching six innings while giving up seven hits, four runs and striking out six. The Braves got on the Big Green early, pushing eight runs across the plate in the first inning. Sophomore outfielder Carson Husmann had a 3-4 day at the dish, notching three runs and batting in five more.
Junior catcher Keaton Rice went 4-5 with five RBI’s and fell a home run short of hitting for cycle. Freshman right fielder Michael Mylott had no trouble connecting on the long ball, as he connected on his first two collegiate homers in the fourth and eighth innings, driving in three Braves in total.
The next day, the Braves took on Central Connecticut State and . the Blue Devils (6-4) pushed across seven runs in the fourth – four by way of a grand slam – helping CCSU to a 10-1 lead. Connor O’Brien homered during the Braves’ late comeback attempt and connected for three hits for three RBI’s but Bradley dropped the contest 10-6.
In the finale of the Florida road trip, the Braves rematched with Dartmouth again but this time around, the score remained much closer than the first matchup. Despite a 2-run single from sophomore infielder Jackson Chatterton in the sixth, the Braves comeback was stalled the rest of the way, eventually losing by a final of 4-5 and dropping their ninth in eleven games.
WHAT:
The trip during spring break didn’t go as the Braves probably had desired in the win-loss column, largely in part to an already thin pitching staff that was overworked with seven games in nine days. Scoring 35 runs in four games is a good sign for the offense, which continues to be a calling card for the Braves, but defensively, the Braves have continued to struggle.
Committing ten errors, and giving up 28 runs over the four-game stretch is where the Braves have been the weakest. Not giving the opposing team extra opportunities is paramount for the Braves, who own a 7.38 ERA through 16 games.
WHERE:
The Braves continue to slide on the season, dropping nine games in their last eleven. From March 11-13, Bradey took on a strong South Florida team, taking one out of three and dropping the series finale on a walk-off.
On the road the Braves are 1-6, while at a neutral site, are 4-5. The Braves have yet to play on their home field at Dozer Park this season but will welcome the Western Illinois Leathernecks on March 30.
WHEN:
The fourth inning was a weak spot for Bradley on the mound, allowing 11 total runs in the frame over four games. The Braves 5-11 record through their first 16 games, however, is no reason for worry. In 2021, the team went 6-10 in the same season-opening span and turned it around to finish 20-22 and over .500 in Valley games.
The Braves have four non-conference games left before opening MVC play, after their contest against Illinois today was canceled due to inclement weather. Bradley will then travel to Tennessee Tech for a 3-game set from later this weekend before hosting WIU on March 30.
