Peoria, Ill. ? Starting pitching owned the headlines in the first two games of the weekend series but, Sunday the offense exploded for 14 hits off Indiana State pitching as the Braves completed a three-game sweep of the Sycamores with an 8-4 at O'Brien Field.

Indiana State grabbed their first lead of the series in the top half of the first inning on a two-out, opposite field home run from catcher, and MVC leading hitter, Nevin Ashley off Bradley starter Collin Brennan (Williamsville, Ill./Williamsville). 

Ashley's sixth bomb of the year was answered with three Bradley runs in the second and another in the third to give the freshman right-hander a three-run cushion.

Junior Pat Ryerson (Des Moines, Iowa/Johnston) was one of four Braves that turned in multi-hit efforts in the 14 hit onslaught.  Ryerson posted a career-high four runs batted in a 3-for-5 afternoon that tied a career mark for hits in a game.

Ryerson's big RBI day started in the second with a two-out single that plated Brad Jones (Potomac, Md./Landon School) and John Lequia (Racine, Wis./Washington Park) as part of a three run inning where the Braves took a lead they would never relinquish.

The Sycamores drew within a run in the fifth when centerfielder Cory Kral's one-out triple to right-center plated two for the guests. 

Just as Indiana State appeared to have seized momentum, rightfielder Tim Brewer was punched out on an appealed third strike that led to his ejection and that of the Indiana State bench coach.

Bradley used the ruckus to their advantage, answering ISU's runs with two of their own in the bottom half of the fifth ? scoring both on wild pitches from Sycamore closer Brian Omogrosso.

In the bottom of the seventh, Ryerson struck again - this time with a one-out single to score Zach Norris (Rock Island, Ill./Rock Island) and Jason Newburger (Vernon Hills, Ill./Vernon Hills) with the final two Bradley runs.

Newburger would come around to score three times in the game in addition to a 2-for-3 effort at the dish and an RBI.

Brennan went eight innings to push his record to an unbeaten 4-0 on the season while striking out seven. 

The sweep is the first of Indiana State since the Braves took a two-game set in April of 1984 at Vonachen Stadium. 

The win evens the Bradley record at 14-14 and pushes their league-leading record to 7-2.  The sweep gives the Braves wins in their first three conference series, a feat not seen on the Hilltop since 1968 ? also the last season the Braves won the MVC regular-season title.

The MVC leading Braves will play host intrastate foe Illinois this Tuesday evening at 6 p.m. at O'Brien Field.