JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Bradley broke out for its greatest offensive output in five seasons and cruised to its ninth straight victory, downing Toledo, 21-3, Saturday morning at the Kennel Club Classic at Alexander Brest Stadium.
Each of Bradley's starters got at least one hit Saturday as the Braves (9-2) equalled the single-game school record with 24 base hits. Junior right fielder Justin Carr (Camargo, Ill./Villa Grove H.S.) led the way with four hits and senior shortstop Adam Uscicki (Bloomingdale, Ill./Lake Park H.S.) drove in a team-high five runs on a single, double and 3-run home run. Paul Rice and Jon Smith also collected three hits for the Braves. The 21 runs were the most since Bradley touched Northern Iowa for 22 in the second game of a doubleheader April 16, 2000 at Pete Vonachen Stadium at Meinen Field.
Junior righthander Collin Walker (Channahon, Ill./Minooka H.S.) enjoyed his longest outing of the season and improved to 3-0 by scattering six hits in eight innings of work.
After both teams scored one run in the first inning, Bradley started its offensive onslaught in earnest with a five-run second inning. Carr and second baseman Ryan Curry opened the second with singles and Uscicki followed with a sacrifice fly to put the Braves ahead for good, 2-1. Rice added a two-out, RBI double, then Canada, Smith and designated hitter Joe Napoli came through with three straight, run-scoring singles.
After scoring two more runs in the third on a Uscicki double and Ryan Kenny sacrifice fly, the Braves truly broke the game open with an 8-run fifth inning. Uscicki's first home run of the season, a 3-run blast, accounted for the first three runs of the fifth. Canada later added a 2-run single and Carr drew a bases-loaded walk. The other two runs in the frame came home on a wild pitch and a ground out by Curry.
Bradley will try for its 10th consecutive win Monday (6 p.m. CST) versus Long Island (2-1), which will play Rider earlier in the day. The current nine-game winning streak is Bradley's longest since the 1996 Braves won 10 in a row from March 31 through the first game of an April 10 doubleheader at Illinois State. Bradley has twice enjoyed 12-game winning streaks during the Dewey Kalmer coaching era (1980-present), during the 1984 and 1993 seasons.
