PEKIN, Ill. -- First-year Bradley head coach Buddy Foster picked up his first coaching victory and the Braves opened up the season with a 4-0 shutout win against instate foe Western Illinois Friday afternoon at the 2006 Bradley Invite at the Dragon's Dome in Pekin, Ill.

Bradley, which opened a season at home for the first time in program history, tallied four runs in the third inning to defeat the Westerwinds 4-0 in first-day action at the Bradley Invite. In other tournament action, Northern Illinois defeated Northern Iowa 4-3 and Purdue scored six runs in the top of the seventh inning in an 8-3 win over IUPUI.

Senior Brittany Dehler and freshman Ashley Birdsong combined for a three-hit shutout, striking out 13 batters. Dehler gave up three singles and struck out eight in four shutout innings, while Birdsong earned the victory in her first career appearance. Birdsong struck out five Westerwinds and walked one in three hitless innings of work.

The Braves broke open a scoreless game in the top of the third inning, plating four runs. Senior Joanna Pettit delivered the big blow, with a two-out double to left field. Senior Kimberly Dobill led off the inning with a single to left center and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt. Junior Christine Cooney smacked a double to left center to score Dobill from second with the first run of the game.

Molly Bergeson legged out a bunt single and stole second to put runners at second and third base with one out. Pettit scored Cooney and Bergeson with a two-out double to left field and Pettit came around to score on a single by sophomore Jessie Musgrove.

Bergeson finished the day 2-for-4 at the plate with one run scored, while Pettit, Musgrove, Dobill, Cooney and junior Elizabeth Wilson each collected hits on the day.

Courtney Jacobson suffered the loss for the Westerwinds in their season opener, giving up seven hits and four runs in two and two-third innings.

Bradley returns to action Saturday with a pair of games. The Braves play Northern Illinois at 1 p.m. and IUPUI at 2:45 p.m. Saturday's action kicks off at 9:30 a.m. with Western Illinois facing Northern Iowa.