PEKIN, Ill. ? Bradley had already wrapped up the tournament title at the 2007 Schutt Showcase, but gutted out a 4-3 eight-inning victory against Saint Louis Sunday evening to wrap up tournament play.  Junior Trish Kowalewski drove in the game-winning run in the eighth and sophomore hurler Ashley Birdsong matched a career-high with 13 strikeouts to pick up her fifth victory of the year.

The Braves (7-1 overall) scored first, plating a run on a wild pitch in the bottom of the first inning, but had to score a run in the bottom of the seventh to force extra innings.

Birdsong gave up just one hit and faced the minimum through the first four innings, but surrendered a leadoff double in the fifth.  Kinsley Kelly followed with a two-run homer that put Saint Louis ahead 2-1.  

Bradley quickly tied the game in the bottom half of the frame.  Junior Stephanie Ramsey led off the inning with a double and came around to score on a two-out double by senior Elizabeth Wilson to knot the game at 2-2 heading into the sixth inning.

The Billikens (2-9 overall) retook the lead in the top of the sixth with a two-out run of their own.  Shana Richard singled to start the inning, before Birdsong notched a pair of strikeouts and appeared poised to pitch out of the inning.  Richard then stole second and Nicki Jost knocked her in with a double that put Saint Louis ahead 3-2.

The Braves entered the seventh trailing by a run, but nearly won the game in bottom of the seventh before going to extra innings.  With runners at second and third with two outs Saint Louis elected to intentionally walk Wilson to load the bases.  The Billikens plans backfired as Jessie Musgrove drew a two-out bases-loaded walk to score Janay Mitchell with the tying run.  Sophomore Alycia Bachkora, who was 5-for-7 with six RBI, in the previous two games flew out to left field to end the inning with the score tied at 3-3.

Using the international tie-breaker for extra inning games, pinch runner Stacy Gillette opened the eighth inning for Saint Louis on second base and moved to third on a groundout.  Birdsong struck out the next hitter and forced the next batter to line out back to the circle to end the inning unscathed.

Pinch runner Anne Creighton was on second to start the bottom of the eighth for the Braves and moved to third on a sacrifice bunt by freshman Lauren Meister.  Kowalewski ended the game with her second hit of the ball game to score Creighton from third and help the Braves win their fifth consecutive game.

Birdsong improved to 5-0 on the year, picking up her 11^th consecutive victory.  She tied a career-high with 13 strikeouts, while walking none and surrendered six hits and three earned runs.  The win improved the Braves record to 7-1 on the season, marking the best start since Bradley went 7-0-1 to open the 1995 season.

Bradley won the tournament title with a perfect 4-0 record.  Saint Louis and Northern Iowa both went 2-2 during the weekend's action, while IUPUI finished the tournament 0-4.

The Braves return to action Friday at the Red and Black Cardinal Tournament in Louisville, Ky. against Western Kentucky at 2 p.m.