NORMAL, Ill. -- Bradley committed five errors and the Braves failed to advance a runner past second base as Illinois State posted an 8-0 victory in the Missouri Valley Conference softball opener for both teams at the Redbird Softball Complex in Normal, Ill., Saturday. Originally scheduled to play a doubleheader, the team's played a single game and will conclude the series Sunday with a noon doubleheader.

Illinois State capitalized on five Bradley errors, scoring six unearned runs in the contest and Redbird pitcher Stacy Birk scattered five hits in five innings as ISU improved to a 17-5 overall, 1-0 in the Valley with the win. Bradley's Molly Bergeson gave up nine hits, but just two earned runs in the loss as the Braves fell to 6-8 overall, 0-1 in league play.

The Redbirds took a 3-0 lead in the second inning, thanks in part to a pair of Bradley errors. Lauren Bierwirth had a one out infield single and stole second. She moved to third base on a fielder's choice as she beat Bergeson's throw to third base. After Katie Guilbault stole second, Mandy Garner singled up the middle to score Bierwirth. Bradley sophomore Christine Cooney fielded the ball in center field and one-hopped a throw to the plate to gun down Guilbault who attempted to score from second base for the second out of the inning.

Tricia Gaither singled to left and an error on the play allowed Garner to score. Gaither later scored on the Braves second error in the inning to give Illinois State a 3-0 lead.

ISU added two unearned runs in the fourth inning. Guilbault reached on an error to lead off the frame and pinch runner Kelley Steers moved to second on a sacrifice bunt. The Redbirds loaded the bases with a groundout and by drawing a pair of walks. With two outs and the bases loaded, the Braves fourth error in the game allowed Steers and Kate Stake to score to push the lead to 5-0.

Illinois State ended the game in the fifth inning, by plating three runs. Randi Patton reached on an error to lead off the inning and stole second. Guilbault knocked in Patton from third base with a one-out single to left field. Garner legged out an infield single on a slow roller and Gaither belted a double to left field to score Guilbault. Stake ended the game with a single up the middle that plated Garner as the Redbirds downed Bradley 8-0 in five innings.

Five Bradley players each notched one hit as the Braves left five runners on base in the game. Junior Joanna Pettit went 1-for-2 to continue her hot hitting and extend her hitting streak to five games. Freshman Trisha Kowalewski went 0-for-2 as she had her 11-game hitting streak snapped. Bergeson fell to 1-2 on the season as she suffered the loss for the Braves. She struck out two and walked four, while giving up nine hits in four and one-third innings of work.

The teams close out the three-game series Sunday with a noon doubleheader at the Redbird Softball Complex.