JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- After tying the single-game school record with 24 base hits in each of the two previous contests, Bradley could not get its offense rolling and host Jacksonville (12-9) limited the Braves (10-3) to four hits in a 6-2 victory Tuesday afternoon at Alexander Brest Field.
The loss ends Bradley's winning streak at 10 games, the team's longest victory ride since the 1996 season.
It appeared as though the Braves might keep the streak going early Tuesday by scoring a pair of runs in the top of the first inning. Sophomore third baseman Paul Rice (Beardstown, Ill./Beardstown H.S.) hit a two-out double for Bradley's first base runner and senior first baseman Brad Canada (Fishers, Ind./Hamilton Southeastern H.S.) was hit by a pitch to put runners at first and second. Freshman designated hitter Peter Malinowski (Ballwin, Mo./Parkway South H.S.) put the Braves on the board with a two-run double down the left field line.
Malinowski's clutch double, however, would be Bradley's last two-out hit of the game. The Braves did not get another base hit of any kind until sophomore second baseman Ryan Curry singled with one out in the fifth inning.
Bradley sophomore righthander Michael Christl (Naperville, Ill./Waubonsie Valley H.S.), who had worked only as a closer in his first five appearances this year, got the starting assignment Tuesday. Christl (0-1) struggled with his control, but managed to limit the Dolphins to three runs in his five innings of work, despite giving up five hits and seven walks.
Leading 3-2, Jacksonville broke the game open by roughing up Bradley's early-season No. 1 starter Brandon Magee for three runs in the sixth inning. Magee started the sixth in relief of Christl, but the junior righty did not retire any of the three batters he faced. Second baseman Sean McHugh, who finished the day 4-for-5 at the plate, greeted Magee with a single to left and Pete Clifford followed with a 2-run home run. Right fielder Zach Haniff then chased Magee with a single to left field.
Junior reliever Peter Elmer (Wilmette, Ill./New Trier H.S.) eventually allowed pinch-runner Justin Young to score on a Matt Lopez sacrifice fly, but he kept the Dolphins off the board the rest of the way and struck out five in his three innings of work.
Bradley's best chance for a rally came in the seventh inning. After Jacksonville starter Kyle DeVries (4-1) gave way to Matt Davis to start the seventh, Johnny Sage greeted the new hurler with a double to right center field. After Curry lined out, Rice and Canada drew back-to-back walks from Davis to load the bases, but pinch-hitter Pat Ryerson's ground ball to third resulted in an inning-ending double play.
Bradley still has two more games in Jacksonville before opening its 2005 home schedule Saturday with a 1 p.m. double-header versus Michigan State (5-6) at O'Brien Field. The Braves will visit North Florida Wednesday evening and will take on Long Island Thursday afternoon to complete its participation in the North Florida Kennel Club Classic.
