PEORIA, Ill. -- Emergency starter Chris Krawczyk was up to the task, striking out a career-best 11 Bradley hitters in seven scoreless innings, leading Missouri State (23-17, 8-6) to a 6-0 Missouri Valley Conference baseball victory against the host Braves (20-21, 9-8) between rain showers Sunday afternoon at O'Brien Field.

With the final game of the 3-game set cancelled due to a combination of the weather and the Peoria Chiefs schedule, Missouri State completed a two-game weekend sweep of the Braves by holding Bradley scoreless on eight singles.  The Braves, who held a 3-game lead in the league standings 10 days ago, are now scoreless in their last 20 Valley innings and have been shutout in three of their last five MVC games to fall into fourth place.

Missouri State got all of the offense it needed in the second inning, beginning a 3-run rally on a bit of a fluke play.  Jacob Hilgendorf hit a one-out blooper into short centerfield.  Bradley shortstop Ryan Curry appeared to be in position to catch the popup, but lost the ball in the sun.  While ducking out of the way, the ball actually hit off the heel of Curry's glove, behind his back, and bounced away from him, allowing Hilgendorf to take second on what was officially scored a double.  Missouri State followed with consecutive singles, a double by Adam Pummill and a sacrifice fly by Matt Lawson to push across three runs against Bradley starter Collin Walker (1-4).

Missouri State was expected to start ace Brett Sinkbeil, who attracted 15 scouts to O'Brien Field, but the junior righty was unable to complete his pregame warm-up in the bullpen, forcing Krawcyzk into the starting assignment.  Bradley appeared to be in position to rattle Krawczyk early.  Leadoff man Brad Jones singled to right to open the bottom of the first inning, and after he was sacrificed to second, Ryan Curry followed with an infield single to put runners at first and second with one out.  Krawczyk struck out Bradley's top two hitters, Jason Newburger looking and Dan Brewer swinging, to work out of the jam and set the tone for the rest of the game.

Krawczyk and Jake Schafer, who tossed the final two innings, combined to fan 15 Bradley hitters Sunday, the most strikeouts suffered by the Braves since the first game of a doubleheader at Missouri State on April 14, 2001.

Due to final exams, which begin Wednesday, Bradley will have nearly a week to get recharged for the stretch run.  The Braves will continue their longest homestand of the season Friday by opening a 3-game Valley series versus Northern Iowa.  The weekend series versus the Panthers also will serve as a reunion for all of the former Braves who played for longtime head coach Leo Schrall.  Among the weekend activities, Schrall's 1956 College World Series team will be honored in a pregame ceremony Saturday.