PEORIA, Ill. -- Four Bradley pitchers combined on the team's first one-hitter in this decade and senior third baseman Paul Rice drove home the game's first three runs on a pair of doubles, leading the Braves (13-10) to a 5-1 non-conference baseball victory against visiting Saint Louis (5-25) on a blustery Tuesday afternoon at O'Brien Field.

A transfer from St. Louis Community College-Forest Park, junior right-hander Jon Goebel (1-1) earned his first career win with the Braves by tossing five perfect innings.  Junior Eitan Barbalat allowed a walk in each of his first two innings before giving up the only Saint Louis hit, an infield single by Bill Musselman, to lead off the eighth.  Lefty Luke Etchison started the ninth and a pair of walks contributed to the loss of Bradley's shutout bid, but Tyler Thornton got the game's final two outs to preserve the victory and earn his first career save.

After the Braves put two runners on in each of the first two innings, Bradley broke through for the the game's first run in the third when Rice doubled home Brad Jones.  Jones started the inning by reaching on shortstop Ziggy Moore's throwing error, then stole second in front of Rice's 43rd career double.  Rice came through again in the fourth with a 2-out, 2-run double that hit high off the wall in right centerfield for a 3-0 Bradley lead.  His 44th career double moved Rice past his predecessor at third base, Ryan Sullivan, alone in eighth place on Bradley's career list.

Goebel needed only 45 pitches to complete his five perfect innings before giving way to junior Eitan Barbalat to start the sixth.  In addition to his offensive work, Rice provided a defensive gem to end the fourth, making a diving stab and strong throw on Blake Bratcher's sharp ground ball into the hole to preserve the perfect game.  The Billikens did get their first base runner with two outs in the sixth when No. 9 hitter David Blackwell fouled off three full-count offerings before drawing the first of Barbalat's two free passes.

Bradley gained some insurance in the sixth, again taking advantage of a Saint Louis error.  With runners at first and third with two outs, Rice again stepped to the plate, this time hitting a hard ground ball to third.  Casey Moore first dropped the ball, then threw wild to first base, allowing Mike McMillan to come home with the fourth run, while Jones and Rice advanced to third and second, respectively.  Dan Cowsert replaced Billikens starter Brock Hewitt (0-6) and got out of the jam by getting Dan Brewer to pop out to right.

The Braves continued to pad their lead in the seventh when Ryan Curry drilled his third home run of the year through a strong breeze over the wall in left centerfield for a 5-0 Bradley advantage.

Musselman broke up Bradley's no-hit bid by legging out an infield single to lead off the eighth.  Rice nearly kept the no-hitter intact again by snaring the two-hopper in the hole between short and third, but Musselman beat his throw to first by a half-step.  The Billikens then threatened to end the shutout when Brewer mishandled pinch-hitter Ryan Bennett's one-out grounder, putting runners at first and second.  Barbalat worked out of the jam by getting Blackwell to go down swinging and Tom Pinnell to ground out.  Bradley's staff was nearing the team's first no-hitter since Brent Walker went the distance in a 1-0 victory against Miami (Ohio) March 17, 1993 in Edinburg, Texas.

The Billikens finally broke through in the ninth as Blake Bratcher and Greg Rodgers after drew consecutive one-out walks from Etchison.  Casey Moore hit another ground ball into the hole between short and third, where Rice made yet another diving stop.  This time, however, he threw wildly to second from his knees, allowing Bratcher to score.  Tyler Thornton came in with runners at the corners and one out and the Braves allowed Moore to take second without a throw.  Thornton struck out Musselman for the second out then ended the game by getting Rodrigue to ground out.

The Braves were scheduled to return to action with a non-conference game Wednesday at Illinois-Chicago, but that game was cancelled Tuesday due to the forecasted cold in Chicago.  Bradley will resume its Missouri Valley Conference schedule with a 3-game series this weekend at Missouri State, beginning with Friday's 7 p.m. contest at Hammons Field.