MURRAY, Ky. -- Bradley sophomore pitcher Brad Altbach (Northbrook, Ill./Glenbrook North H.S.) tossed a complete game three-hitter, making a pair of second inning runs hold up as the Braves (1-0) opened their 108th season with a 2-1 baseball victory in the first game of a doubleheader Saturday afternoon at Murray State (0-1).

Altbach was named the 2007 Missouri Valley Conference Freshman of the Year and a Louisville Slugger Freshman All-American, primarily based on his stellar work as the team's top closer last season, but the 6-foot-2 right-hander showed he also can be an effective starter with his performance Saturday.  Altbach (1-0) improved to 8-2 in his brief Bradley career by limiting the Thoroughbreds to three singles.  He worked around three walks by striking out five.

With Altbach holding the ?Breds in check, Bradley got all the offense it needed by scratching out a pair of runs in the second inning.  Designated hitter Jim Clayton (Chatham, Ill./Chatham Glenwood H.S.), a transfer from Murray State's Ohio Valley Conference rival Southeast Missouri State, opened the second by drawing a leadoff walk.  Junior rightfielder Colby Luttrell (Kincaid, Ill./South Fork H.S.) followed with another walk to put runners at first and second with no outs.

Sophomore catcher Kevin Sullivan (Elmhurst, Ill./York H.S.), a transfer from Oakton Junior College, singled to left centerfield to load the bases and junior shortstop Tommy Fitzgerald (Lenexa, Kan./Mill Valley H.S.), a transfer from Fort Scott Community College, delivered Bradley's first run of the season with a sacrifice fly.  Murray State pitcher Mike Perconte then uncorked a wild pitch, allowing Luttrell to score what proved to be the winning run.

Perconte (0-1) suffered the loss despite allowing just two hits and striking out five in his 4.0 innings of work.  Daniel Calhoun allowed only a Kori Jensen (Wichita, Kan./Goddard H.S.) single in his 3.0 innings of relief with three strikeouts.

Altbach got a little help from his defense in the third inning after ?Breds left fielder Elliot Frey drew a one-out walk.  Frey stole second while shortstop Kyle Tiernan was striking out, but when Brooks Thornton followed with a single to left field, Nick Mitidiero (Lockport, Ill./Lockport Township H.S.) threw Frey out at the plate to preserve the 2-0 lead.  Mitidiero is a junior who transferred from Triton Junior College.

Murray State did get on the board in the fourth inning, but could not complete rattle Altbach.  Second baseman Cory Hodskins hit a one-out single, then promptly stole second and advanced to third on a ground out by designated hitter Andrew Cella.  First baseman Taylor Thieke plated MSU's only run with a single through the left side, but Altbach fought back, striking out right fielder Wes Cunningham looking to end the threat.

The ?Breds put runners in scoring position in both the fifth and sixth innings, but Altbach pitched out of both jams, then retired the side in order in the seventh.

The teams will play a second 7-inning game Saturday, then will close the 3-game set with a 9-inning contest Sunday afternoon at Reagan Field.