EVANSTON, Ill. -- Northwestern scored 15 runs and pounded out 20 hits as the 15th-ranked Wildcats swept a non-conference doubleheader from Bradley Tuesday afternoon at Drysdale Field in Evanston, Ill. Northwestern defeated Bradley 7-2 and 8-2 as the Braves fell to 12-25 overall on the season.

The Braves took a 2-0 lead in the top of the second inning, collecting all four of the team's hits in the contest in the second frame. The Braves loaded the bases on singles by Angela Toures, Elizabeth Wilson and Sarah Mancuso. Pinch hitter Joanna Pettit singled up the middle to score pinch runner Holly Rogers from third base and junior Bethany Till hit a ground ball to the right side of the infield to plate Wilson with the second run of the inning.

Northwestern scored five runs in the bottom of the inning to take a 5-2 lead. Kristen Amegin drew a walk and pinch runner Elizabeth Piatt stole second. After Piatt moved to third on a groundout, Kelly Odell singled to left to score Piatt. Odell stole second and Darcy Sengewald drew a walk to put runners at first and second. Stephanie Churchwell smacked a two-run triple to right center and later scored on a Jessica Miller double to left center. Jamie Dotson capped the scoring in the inning with a double to center field that scored Miller to put the Wildcats ahead 5-2.

Megan Hinck didn't allow another Bradley player to reach base in the final five innings and the Wildcats added single runs in the third and fourth innings to cruise to the 7-2 victory. Junior Brittany Dehler took the loss for the Braves, falling to 8-12 on the season. Dehler struck out three and walked five in five innings of work.

Bradley came up empty early in the second game of the doubleheader leaving the bases loaded in the second inning and failing to score in the third after having runners at first and third with no outs.

Northwestern capitalized on the Braves slow start by taking a 3-0 lead in the third inning. Churchwell singled to lead off the inning and moved to third base on a sacrifice bunt and ground ball to the right side of the infield. Dotson had a two-out singled to center field, allowing Churchwell to score and Kristen Amegin followed with a home run to right field that gave the Wildcats a 3-0 lead.

The Braves got one run back in the fourth inning when senior Sarah Mancuso hit her first career home run. Mancuso's solo homer was the team's 15th of the season and was her first in over 350 career at bats as she cut the deficit to 3-1.

Northwestern added two runs in the bottom of the fourth inning, however, pushing the lead to 5-1. A two-out single by Sheila McCorkle knocked in two runs.

Bradley plated another run in the sixth inning on an RBI double by Pettit. Senior Brittany Mynsberge led off the frame with a single and Pettit followed with her seventh double of the season to right center as Mynsberge came around to score. Freshman Jessie Musgrove hit a single to right field and the Braves had runners at the corners with no outs, but Northwestern pitcher Eilleen Canney pitched out of the jam and the Wildcats held on to the 5-2 lead.

The Wildcats added three runs in the bottom of the sixth inning on a sacrifice fly by Amegin and two-run double by Miller to push the lead to 8-2. Canney retired the Braves in order in the seventh to earn her first save of the season.

Freshman Molly Bergeson suffered the loss for Bradley, pitching three innings and giving up five hits and four earned runs. She fell to 1-6 on the season.

Bradley returns to action Thursday when the Braves play a 4 p.m. doubleheader at Illinois in Champaign, Ill