PEKIN, Ill. -- Solid pitching and timely hitting continue to lead to early success for the Bradley softball team, as the Braves defeated IUPUI 4-1 Saturday to win their consecutive game to start the 2006 season and advance to Sunday's championship of the Bradley Invitational.

Bradley (3-0 overall) is off to its best start since opening the 1995 season with seven consecutive victories and will face Purdue in the championship game of the Bradley Invitational Sunday at 2 p.m. at the Dragon's Dome in Pekin, Ill.

Sophomore Molly Bergeson went 3-for-4 with two runs scored to highlight the offensive efforts, while freshman Ashley Birdsong struck out 10 batters and picked up a complete game victory.

Junior Liz Wilson got things started for the Braves offensively with a one-out double in the second inning. After moving to third base on a wild pitch, Wilson scored on a sacrifice fly by freshman Alycia Bachkora to take a 1-0 lead.

The Braves added two more runs in the third inning to push the lead to 3-0. Bethany Till and Molly Bergeson singled to open the inning and Joanna Pettit drew a one-out walk to load the bases. Both Till and Bergeson scored on a throwing error by Caryn Hill on a fielder's choice.

Molly Bergeson scored another unearned run in the fifth inning after leading off the inning with a single. Bergeson stole second base and moved to third on a sacrifice. A two-out error on a ground ball in the infield allowed Bergeson to cross the plate for the second time in the game and team-leading fifth time this season.

Birdsong kept the Jaguars off-balance most of the game, not allowing a hit until the fourth inning. IUPUI (0-2 overall) scratched out one run in the sixth inning on a double down the left field line. With runners on the corners and one out in the sixth, Birdsong pitched out of the jam by striking out the next two batters, en route to a 10 strikeout effort.

The 2006 Bradley Invitational concludes Sunday with three games. Action begins at 10 a.m. with the fifth-place game which will feature Western Illinois and IUPUI. Northern Iowa and Northern Illinois will play in the third-place game at noon and Bradley will take on Purdue in the championship game at 2 p.m. at the Dragon's Dome.