Normal, Ill. ? The final game in the weekend set turned into a fabulous pitchers' dual until the Braves broke through, scoring two runs in the top half of the fifth and giving starter Collin Brennan (Williamsville, Ill./Williamsville) all the support he would need as the Braves captured game two of the double header 4-0 and took their fourth straight MVC series win to improve 9-3 in conference play.

The 6-6 Brennan picked up his fifth win on the season against zero defeats as he twirled 7.1 strong innings for Braves before being relieved in the eighth by junior Michael Christl (Naperville, Ill./Waubonsie Valley).

Jason Newburger (Vernon Hills, Ill./Vernon Hills) lead off the fifth with his second single of the day.  Freshman Dan Brewer (Brookfield, Ill./Lyons Township) successfully sacrificed Newburger by laying down his sixth sacrifice of the season.  Leftfielder Colby Luttrell (Kincaid, Ill./South Fork) laced a single to right, scoring Newburger, and advanced to second on a throwing error by right fielder Matt Bolt.  After a Pat Ryerson (Des Moines, Iowa/Johnston) walk, freshman designated hitter Tony DiMonte (Barrington, Ill./Barrington) doubled down the left field line, scoring Luttrell.

Bradley would add insurance in the seventh when sophomore catcher Ryan Eigsti (Eureka, Ill./Eureka) lead off the inning with a triple to centerfield and was squeezed home on a well-executed Ryerson bunt.

The Braves added an unearned run in the eighth to seal the deal.

Bradley reliever Michael Christl was spotless again in his second relief stint off of injury that kept him out nearly a month.  Christl face five Illinois State hitters and retired all five, including one strikeout.

Ryan Curry (Downers Grove, Ill./South), Newburger and Luttrell had two hits apiece for the Braves who improve to 18-15 on the season, 9-3 in MVC action.

Illinois State starter Jim Sajewich pitched well in defeat, surrendering six hits over his six innings of work while striking out five for the Redbirds (12-22, 5-7 MVC).

The Braves play St. Francis (Ill.) in a non-conference tilt Tuesday at 6 p.m. at O'Brien Field before a showdown with Wichita State next weekend.