PEORIA, Ill. -- Bradley Softball has a big weekend on tap as the Braves host preseason Missouri Valley Conference preseason favorite Drake for a three-game series at Petersen Hotels Field at the Louisville Slugger Sports Complex in addition to holding the teams "Lacing Up" Event (Saturday) along with a free youth clinic (Sunday).
The three-game series which includes a 1:30 p.m. doubleheader Saturday and concludes Sunday with a single game at 11 a.m. is part of a season-long, four-game home stand for Bradley (19-25 overall, 5-12 MVC).
The Braves will wear gold laces Saturday as part of the team's "Lacing Up" initiative to help raise awareness of pediatric cancer. The Braves are partnering with Go 4 The Goal to improve the lives of children battling cancer by providing financial assistance, granting special wishes, developing unique hospital programs, and funding innovative research. For more information or to donate visit - https://donate.go4thegoal.org/team/111576
Sunday, Bradley will host a free post-game youth clinic following the 11 a.m. series finale. The clinic is open to all children ages 6-14 and requires no pre-registration. Participants are encouraged to bring their own equipment for the clinic, which will begin shortly after the conclusion of Sunday's contest.
Both games of Saturday's doubleheader will be available on ESPN3 as part of The Valley On ESPN3 and can be viewed through WatchESPN.com and the WatchESPN app. In addition, BradleyBraves.com will provide links to live stats for all three contests. For ticket information visit - http://www.bubraves.com/sports/2017/3/27/bradley-softball-ticket-information.aspx?id=972
Bradley enters the weekend series two games ahead of Drake (20-24 overall, 3-14 MVC) in the MVC standings in a tie with Loyola for seventh overall. The Braves will try to snap a five-game skid which has included three one-run losses coming in the final at bat of the contest. Bradley has played 13 one-run games this season, with seven of 17 MVC contests decided by a single run. The Braves played a total of seven one-run games in Valley play last year.
Freshman
Kealia Wysocki homered in both games of Wednesday's doubleheader at Illinois State and now has a team-best six home runs. Wysocki, who is 6-for-8 in the last three games, was 3-for-4 with a double, two homers, five RBI, two and a pair of walks in the twin bill against the Redbirds. Her six home runs are tied for the second most by a Bradley freshman and one off the school freshman mark of seven set by Trish Kowalewski in 2005.
Senior
Kelly Kapp continues to climb the Missouri Valley Conference career hits list, moving into a tie for 12th with Heather Stella of Illinois State at 224 with two hits Wednesday. Kapp enters the weekend needing eight hits to pass Mackenzie Daigh of Northern Iowa for 11th in league history. In addition, Kapp is three runs from breaking into the top 20 in Valley history in runs scored.
Wednesday night's 2-for-4 effort against Illinois State was Kapp's 21st multiple-hit game of the season and the 66th multiple-hit game of her career. She has collected a hit in 134 of 166 games she had a plate appearance during her Bradley career. Kapp's 69 hits in 2017 rank fourth among Bradley season marks and she needs six hits to become just the third player in league history to collect 75 hits or more in two different seasons.
Following the weekend series against Drake, Bradley will finish out a four-game home stand Tuesday with a 4 p.m. game against I-74 rival Illinois State at Petersen Hotels Field at the Louisville Slugger Sports Complex to complete the three-game series.
