After taking the opening game of a doubleheader on April 19 at Northern Iowa, Bradley softball had its 12-game road-winning streak snapped a few hours later.
The Braves lost the final two games of the series to the Panthers and returned home to Peoria April 23 to split a doubleheader with Illinois State.
In the first game of the doubleheader in Cedar Falls, the Braves grabbed a two-run lead in the opening inning after an RBI single by sophomore Stacia Seeton and a wild pitch that scored freshman Keeler Van Breusegen. Bradley scored two more in the third, courtesy of a three-run home run by Seeton.
Bradley scored three more runs in the fourth to break things wide open. Senior Megan Mahaffy pitched six strong innings, allowing just one run and striking out six to earn the Braves a 9-1 victory.
UNI struck first in the second game, scoring four runs off senior Julie Kestas in just a third of an inning. The Panthers scored two more in the third, before senior Katie Habryle’s two run homer put Bradley on the board.
The Panthers homered twice more in the fourth and fifth to run-rule the Braves 11-2. Ashley Chesser blasted three home runs and seven RBIs for the Panthers.
The loss was Bradley’s first on the road since their 8-0 setback to No. 7 Tennessee on Feb. 24. Sunday’s series finale was a low scoring affair, as UNI took the rubber match 4-1.
Junior Emma Jackson (4-5) took the loss after allowing three earned runs on six hits. Junior Kealia Wysocki’s fifth inning solo homer accounted for Bradley’s lone run.
The first game of Tuesday’s doubleheader with Illinois State was originally scheduled as the second game of a doubleheader in Bloomington on April 10. Therefore, ISU played as the home team.
The Redbirds roughed up freshman Grace French for four runs in the first inning and scored four more off Jackson in relief on their way to an 8-1 victory. Junior Allison Apke slugged her 11th home run of the season for the Braves in the loss.
In the nightcap, Bradley turned the tables, grabbing a 2-0 first inning lead thanks to an Apke RBI single and an error by ISU.
The Redbirds responded with a run in the top of the third, but Bradley broke things wide open in the bottom half, scoring five runs. Apke, Seeton and sophomore Taise Thompson all tallied RBIs before Wysocki crushed a two-run home run to make it 7-1.
Wysocki sent everybody home in the fifth, with a two RBI triple to run rule ISU by a final of 8-1. Kestas (6-3) allowed just one run on four hits and averted two bases loaded jams on her way to the victory.
“Our goal in bouncing back was to just set the tone early and go back to playing loose and having fun. It was great to answer back big after the big defeat in the first game,” Kestas said.
Head coach Amy Hayes said the roster from top to bottom is coming up clutch.
“We have 19 players and every single one of them can contribute,” Hayes said. “Sydney [Young] got in there and did her job, [Jillian Navarro] popping into the two hole, [Seeton] 2-3 again and [Thompson] kinda getting her swing back. The ability for any of those kids to contribute just makes our team stronger.”
With the win, Bradley takes the season series from its I-74 rivals for the third time in the last four seasons. Despite the rivalry, Hayes said the team heads into every game with the same mindset.
“At the end of the day, our goal is to win every series,” Hayes said. “One of the reasons we’ve had success this year is we’re not putting more on one game than another.”
The winning mindset Hayes has set for the club is reflected in the players’ mentality as well.
“When there are so many factors that play into having good season, it’s easy to get caught up in things that don’t matter. We’ve talked about W.I.N., meaning ‘What’s Important Now,’” Kestas said.
The Braves wrap up their final homestand of the season this weekend with Indiana State. The teams open the series with a doubleheader on Saturday, followed by an 11 a.m. finale on Sunday. The Braves will honor their important senior class prior to first pitch Sunday.
