NASHVILLE, Tenn. ? Bradley's 107th baseball season got off to a rocky start as the Braves (0-2) dropped both games of Sunday's season-opening doubleheader at Belmont (2-0). Belmont won the first game 6-1, then used a walk-off home run to take the nightcap, 3-2.
In the opener, senior right-hander, Michael Christl (Naperville, Ill./Waubonsie Valley), surrendered five earned runs in four innings of work, while striking out one and walking one batter. Offensively, the Braves mustered one run on three hits.
Senior third baseman Paul Rice (Beardstown, Ill./Beardstown) and sophomore Dan Brewer (Brookfield, Ill./Lyons Township) each had base hits in the opener. Rice was the league's third-leading hitter in 2005 with his .357 average and a first-team All-MVC pick, but a knee injury cut short his 2006 season. Rice added a solo homerun in the second game, but it wasn't enough.
In the second game, junior college transfer Jon Goebel (Dorsey, Ill./Edwardsville) surrendered two runs and six hits over 3 2/3 innings in his Bradley debut. Rice and fellow senior Ryan Curry (Downers Grove, Ill./South) led the Braves offensively with two hits and a run batted in the night cap. Rice got the Braves started with a solo homerun in the top of the first inning.
Tied at 2-2 going to the bottom of the seventh, WIlson Tucker ended the game with a walk-off blast against Bradley hurler Brad Altbach.
Bradley will be back in action next Saturday as they head to Martin, Tenn. to take on the Tennessee-Martin Skyhawks in a three game series beginning with a doubleheader on Saturday at noon.
