Box Score PEKIN, Ill. ? Sophomore Ashley Birdsong struck out a season-high 12 batters and picked up her fourth victory of the season and freshman Amanda Clack made a strong debut, going 2-for-4 with a two run-homer to help highlight the Braves 4-1 victory against Northern Iowa in the first game of the Schutt Showcase at the Dragon's Dome in Pekin, Ill.
Birdsong improved to 4-0 on the young season, picking up her 10th consecutive victory as she struck out a season-high 12 batters. She struck out the first three UNI hitters and recorded nine strikeouts in the first four innings en route to her season best 12.
Clack, who was seeing her first action of the season, got the Braves on the scoreboard first when she ripped a one-out, two-run homer to center field in the top of the fifth inning to give Bradley (4-1 overall) a 2-0 lead.
Northern Iowa (2-3 overall) managed its only run of the game in the bottom half of the inning. Morgan Paulson doubled to lead off the frame for the Panthers. It appeared Birdsong may get out of the jam after striking out the next two hitters to extend her streak of scoreless innings pitched to 23, but Stefany Aguero smacked a two-out double to left field to score Paulson from second and cut Bradley's lead to 2-1.
Birdsong would settle down and retire the final six hitters in order to pick up her fourth win of the season. She moved into seventh on Bradley's career strikeout list and needs just seven strikeouts to move into sixth place.
Bradley added a pair of unearned runs in the top of the seventh to provide a little insurance. Singles by Stephanie Ramsey and Christine Cooney was followed by a Northern Iowa error that allowed Ramsey to score. Cooney was able to come across and score on a wild pitch, giving the Braves a 4-1 lead.
Bradley returns to action this afternoon when the Braves face IUPUI at 2 p.m. at the Schutt Showcase at the Dragon's Dome in Pekin.
