Box Score CHAMPAIGN, Ill. ? Bradley closed out the non-conference portion of its schedule with a 5-0 loss to Illinois Thursday at Eichelberger Field. The Braves fell to 24-20 overall with the loss and finished 17-7 in non-conference games.
Illinois starter Claire DeVreese limited Bradley to just two hits in the game and improved to 4-3 on the season. Sophomore Ashley Birdsong (18-13) gave up seven hits and five earned runs, while striking out six and walking two.
The Illini (30-23 overall) jumped out to a quick lead, scoring three runs in the top of the first inning. Angelino Mexicano led off the bottom of the first inning with a single and Shanna Diller drew a walk, before Lana Armstrong belted her 15th home run of the season. Illinois entered the week as the top home run hitting team in the nation, averaging 1.64 homers per week.
Illinois pushed two more runs across in the bottom of the second inning. Molly Lawhead led off the second with a single to left field and moved to second on a passed ball. Hope Howell drove in Lawhead with a triple to right field and later scored on a passed ball to push the Illini lead to 5-0.
The Braves threatened to score in the top of the fourth inning, but left the bases loaded. Junior Trish Kowalewski led off the frame with a single and an Illinois error on a fielder's choice put runners at first and second with no outs. Freshman Janay Mitchell drew a two-out walk, but DeVreese got Elizabeth Wilson to hit into a fielder's choice to end the inning and preserve the shutout.
DeVreese faced the minimum in the fifth and sixth innings, but Bradley nearly mounted a rally in the top of the seventh inning. A pair of Illini errors and passed ball put runners at first and third with one out, but a foul out and fielder's choice ended the game as the Illini downed Bradley 5-0.
The Braves close out the regular season with a three-game Missouri Valley Conference series against league-leading Creighton. The series opens with a noon doubleheader on Saturday and concludes Sunday with a single game at noon in Omaha, Neb. Bradley can lock up a spot in next week's State Farm Missouri Valley Conference Tournament with a victory or Northern Iowa loss.
