PEORIA, Ill. – Junior
Maria Schroeder went 3-for-6 at the plate, but Bradley managed just seven hits off Missouri State pitching as the Braves dropped a pair of games 4-0 and 5-0 to the Bears Saturday in Missouri Valley Conference Softball action.
Bradley (17-17 overall, 3-5 MVC) couldn't push a run across in either of the team's first two games at Petersen Hotels Field at the Louisville Slugger Sports Complex Saturday and a Schroeder double in the top of the first of the day's second game was the only extra-base hit of the afternoon for the Braves.
Missouri State (18-11 overall, 6-2 MVC) wasted no time getting on the board, taking advantage of one of four Bradley errors in the opener to push a pair of runs across in the top of the first. The Braves left a pair of runners on base in the bottom half of the first and also stranded a pair in the third.
The Bears pushed the lead to 4-0 after single runs in both the sixth and seventh. With runners at second and third and one out in the sixth, a failed squeeze play resulted in the second out of the frame at the plate. Mary Stephens drove in a run, however, with a two-out infield single. In the seventh, Hailee Vigneaux drove in a run with a two-out single.
Missouri State's Kaitilin Beason scattered five hits in the complete game shutout as Schroeder and senior
Kelly Kapp each went 2-for-3 to lead the Braves.
In the nightcap, Holly Kelley held Bradley to just two hits. Schroeder had a one-out double in the bottom of the first, but the Braves were unable to drive her home.
Stephens doubled in the top of the second and came home on a Bradley throwing error on a flyout to center as Missouri State grabbed a 1-0 lead.
Following Schroeder's single, Kelley retired 10 consecutive batters before surrendering a two-out
Katie Habryle single in the bottom of the fourth. Kelley settled down after the Habryle single to get the next 10 hitters out as she cruised to the win.
A four-run sixth for Missouri State put the game out of reach. A single and double to open the frame drove in the first run of the inning and Stephens drove in a run with a single to left. Elena Gambill tripled down the right field line to drive in another run and scored on a sacrifice fly to push the Bears' lead to 5-0.
Bradley and Missouri State will close out the three-game series Sunday with an 11 a.m. game at Petersen Hotels Field at the Louisville Slugger Sports Complex.
