TERRE HAUTE, Ind. -- A ninth-inning rally in the first game came up short, but Bradley (15-5, 2-1) bounced back with a win in the nightcap to split a Missouri Valley Conference doubleheader Saturday at Indiana State (10-12, 1-2). The host Sycamores won the first game 3-2, but Bradley held on for a 6-4 win in the second game to win the opening league series of the season for both teams.
Bradley took 2-of-3 games during the opening weekend of Valley action, the first league-opening series the Braves have won since also taking 2-of-3 at Indiana State during a weather-shortened series March 23-24, 2001. Bradley's 15-5 record is the team's best 20-game start to a season since the 1993 Braves began 17-3 on the way to a final 40-16 ledger.
Senior left-hander Derek Goins (Schererville, Ind./Lake Central H.S.) was the tough-luck loser in Saturday's opener, falling to 2-2 on the season despite going the distance in the 3-2 defeat. Indiana State junior Andre Galle earned his first win of the season by scattering seven Bradley hits in a complete-game effort of his own.
Bradley stranded the potential tying run at third base in the seventh and ninth innings. Trailing 3-1 after six innings, Adam Uscicki drew a two-out walk in the seventh and scored when Johnny Sage followed with his second triple of the season. That rally ended, however, when Ryan Kenny grounded out to first. In the ninth inning, designated hitter Joe Napoli drew a leadoff walk, then gave way to pinch-runner Brian LaJeone. Justin Carr moved LaJeone to second with a sacrifice bunt, then LaJeone went to third on a wild pitch. Second baseman Ryan Curry struck out looking for the second out, though, and pinch-hitter Peter Malinowski ended the game by grounding out to short.
In the nightcap, junior third baseman Paul Rice managed only one hit, but drew four walks and scored three runs to lead the way in the 6-4 victory.
After both teams scored a pair of first-inning runs, Bradley took the lead for good when Sage brought home Adam Uscicki from second base with a one-out single to up the middle. Leading 4-3, Bradley got the game's deciding runs by pushing two across in the sixth. Sage, who finished the second game 3-for-5 at the plate, again was in the middle of the action, setting up the deciding rally by leading off the sixth with a single up the middle. Rice drew a one out walk and first baseman Brad Canada was hit by a pitch, tying his own single-season record of 10, to load the bases. After Napoli struck out, Justin Carr delivered a 2-out single to right field to score Sage and Rice.
Junior right-hander Collin Walker (Channahon, Ill./Minooka H.S.), who was drilled in the right forearm by a line drive Sunday versus Michigan State, relieved starter Brian Spielmann after Jake Eigsti doubled to start the bottom of the fifth. Walker (4-0) worked out of the jam without allowing a run and went on to close out the game. Walker struck out five and allowed only one unearned run in the final five innings of the game.
Bradley returns home Wednesday to host Northern Illinois in a 1 p.m. twinbill at O'Brien Field. Admission to all midweek Bradley home games is free. Wednesday's games are scheduled to be broadcast on the internet at www.bubraves.com (audio) and www.bubraves.tv (video).
