Bradley Hits Home Stretch
? Bradley begins the home heaviest part of its schedule this week with six games at O'Brien Field.
? This week's schedule begins with Tuesday night's contest against Illinois Tech, will be followed with a Wednesday afternoon twinbill against Chicago State and will conclude with a 3-game weekend Missouri Valley Conference series against Southern Illinois.
? With only an interuption for a game April 25 at Western Illinois, Bradley will play 10 of its next 11 games at O'Brien Field.
Countdown to 1,000: 11
? Following last Tuesday's 6-4 win at Illinois, Bradley head coach Dewey Kalmer has lowered his magic number for 1,000 career wins to 11.
? In his 39th year overall as a collegiate head coach, Kalmer brings a 989-880-5 (.529) career record into this weekend's action.
? Kalmer is 14th among NCAA Division I active coaches with his 989 wins and he has a chance to become the 36th coach in Division I history to achieve 1,000 career wins.
And One More to 800
? While pursuing his 1,000th career win, Kalmer also needs just one more victory for 800 Bradley wins: he owns a 799-738-4 (.520) record in his 28th year at Bradley.
? Kalmer's 799 wins at Bradley represent 48.7 percent of the program's overall total of 1,641 wins in 107 seasons.
Home Run Factor
? By allowing a home run in each of the three weekend games at Creighton, Bradley fell to 3-13 when the opposition goes deep, including 1-11 when surrendering just one homer.
? The Braves are 12-2 this year when keeping the opposition in the yard.
? Conversely, Bradley, which got a solo home run from Justin Carr Sunday at Creighton, is now 3-6 this season when hitting one home run.
Rough Weekend Starts
? Following this past weekend's sweep by Creighton, Bradley has fallen to 2-7 in Valley play.
? The Braves have yet to win either of the first two games in its three league series, totalling just nine runs in six Friday and Saturday games against Wichita State (1), Missouri State (4) and Creighton (4).
Nice Precedent
? Bradley will begin this week trying to end its season-long-tying three-game losing streak.
? On a positive note, the last time the Braves lost three in a row, they rebounded by winning nine of their next 11.
Rice to Join 200-Hit Club
? While senior second baseman Ryan Curry is up to fifth in Bradley history with 215 career hits, senior third baseman Paul Rice is about to become the 10th player in school history to record 200 career hits.
? Despite missing the final third of the 2006 season with a torn ACL, Rice begins this week with 196 career base hits.
? A first-team All-MVC pick in 2005, Rice also is tied for sixth in Bradley history with 46 career doubles and tied for ninth with 42 career stolen bases.
2007 MVC Standings
Thru April 16 MVC Overall
Team W-L Pct. GB W-L Pct.
#11 Wichita St. 10-2 .833 --- 30-9 .769
Creighton 9-3 .750 1.0 23-11 .676
Evansville 7-5 .583 3.0 25-13 .658
Illinois State 7-5 .583 3.0 16-17 .485
Southern Illinois 4-5 .444 4.5 23-12 .657
Missouri State 4-5 .444 4.5 19-16 .543
Indiana State 2-7 .222 6.5 17-16 .515
Bradley 2-7 .222 6.5 15-15 .500
Northern Iowa 3-9 .250 7.0 13-19 .406
Non-Conference Record 133-81 .621
