Bradley opened the 2008 season at the Louisville Slugger Desert Classic in Las Vegas, Nev., posting a 3-2 record in the season's first weekend. The highlight of tournament came Saturday afternoon, as Bradley lit up the scoreboard in an 11-3 drubbing of national power Oregon. The Braves used a late offensive surge to top Wisconsin in the tournament opener, 3-2, and got a 4-3 walk-off victory over UTEP Saturday. Tournament host #23 UNLV dropped the Braves late Friday night, 7-1, while Cal State-Bakersfield hit three home runs in a 5-0 win over BU in the tournament finale.

The Braves head to Tennessee this weekend, as Chattanooga will host the Panera Break Challenge starting Feb. 22. The Braves open tournament play Friday against MAC opponents Ball State and Bowling Green. The Braves own an 8-5 series lead over the Cardinals and a 3-2 series lead over the Falcons. BU takes on tournament host Chattanooga Saturday afternoon, immediately followed by a contest with St. Francis (Pa.). The tournament hosts own a 4-1 series lead over the Braves. The Braves have never played St. Francis. Bradley faces Lipscomb for the first time in program history in the final game Sunday morning. The Braves last played in a tournament hosted by Chattanooga in 2006, going 2-4 in the Frost Classic.

One year removed from hitting .235 as a team in 51 games, the Bradley offense came alive in the first five games of the season, compiling a .310 average (40-for-129) in Las Vegas. Freshman Jess Boeger (.625), sophomore Lauren Meister (.400), and senior Jessie Musgrove (.400) carried the load for BU, combining for 18 hits. Sophomore Amanda Clack drove in five runs to lead the Braves.

Bradley freshman designated player/outfielder Jess Boeger started all five games for the Braves at the Louisville Slugger Desert Classic, hitting .625 (10-for-16) out of the leadoff spot with four doubles, a home run, and four RBI. Boeger collected her first collegiate hit on a two-run home run to jump start the Bradley offense in a 3-2 season opening victory over Wisconsin Friday, Feb. 15. The freshman from St. Louis went 4-for-4 in a 4-3 extra inning win over UTEP, as her walk-off RBI double gave the Braves the victory. Boeger has hit safely in each of Bradley's first five games and was perfect in three defensive chances.

Bradley sophomore pitcher Ashley Birdsong went 3-1 with a 3.86 ERA at the Louisville Slugger Desert Classic over the weekend, earning all three BU victories at the tournament. Birdsong notched victories as a starter over Wisconsin and Oregon, and didn't allow a hit in three innings of relief to register a victory over UTEP. In 21 innings, the junior struck 23 batters, walking only one.

Opening Away From Home

2008 marks the first time in head coach Buddy Foster's tenure BU opened the season away from home, as the Braves hosted tournaments at the Dragons Dome in Pekin to open each of the last two seasons. Bradley opened the 2005 season with a 2-4 record at the Frost Classic in Chattanooga, Tenn., registering victories against Bowling Green and Virginia. In fact, Bradley started the 2005 season with 16 consecutive games away from home before finally hosting Wichita State on March 26. BU went 6-10 in those road games. This year, the Braves start the season with 18 games away from home before hosting Creighton on March 21.