Braves Cancelled in Louisville
Inclement weather in Louisville forced the cancellation of four games for Bradley at the Red & Black Tournament over the weekend. The Braves had scheduled contests against tournament host Louisville, Virginia, and IUPUI. BU would have played a fourth game Sunday in the round robin format.
The Braves tried to play a single game against Louisville Monday afternoon, but ongoing rainfall Monday forced another cancellation.
Fast Start on the Road
The Braves have played their first nine games away from Peoria. The 6-3 mark is the best start by the Braves away from home since the 1999 squad started 6-3. BU is scheduled to play their next 10 games on the road. That 1999 team went 7-4 before the home opener, and finished the season with a 22-24 mark.
Boeger Sets the Table
Freshman designated player/outfielder Jess Boeger is off to a fast start out of the leadoff spot for the Braves, as the freshman is hitting an MVC best .483 (14-for-29) with five doubles, two homers, and six runs driven in. She has hit safely in eight of the first nine games and has four multi-hit games. She leads the team in batting average, on base percentage (.515), slugging percentage (.862), runs scored (8), hits (14), doubles (5), and total bases (25).
BU Milestone Update
Sophomore pitcher Ashley Birdsong won two games in the circle at the Coach B Classic, bringing her career victory count to 41. Birdsong needs two more victories to pass Glenda Nelson for third all-time in program history.
The junior hurler also eclipsed the 500 strikeout mark in her Bradley career, as she finished the weekend with 504 punchouts. She struck out 14 Northwestern batters last Saturday, a new career-high.
Freshman catcher Denise Jilka recorded her first career hit against Southern Illinois, a sixth inning single.
Freshman pitcher Katie Dennis made her first career appearance, allowing two earned runs over 3.2 innings against Kansas at the Coach B Classic.
MVC Play Starts Friday in Wichita
Friday, March 15 marks the beginning of Missouri Valley Conference play for the Braves, as BU will travel to Wichita State for a three-game series with the Shockers. The Braves and Shockers will play twice Friday starting at noon, followed by a single contest Saturday at noon.
Wichita State owns a 37-21 lead in the all-time series. The Shockers have won four in a row against the Braves, including a three-game sweep in Peoria last April.
About Wichita State
The Shockers, picked second in the preseason MVC coach's poll, are 16-8 through March 9, including a 4-1 mark at the Shocker Invitational over the weekend. Wichita State has two victories over teams ranked #22 in the country at the time. The Shockers defeated Washington, 18-0 on February 23, and knocked off Texas, 6-2, on March 1.
Senior shortstop Britnee Barnett leads the Shocker offense with a .357 average in 24 starts. She has three home runs and leads the Valley with 30 hits, 24 RBI, and 45 total bases.
In the circle, senior Ashly Bright has a team-high eight wins with a 2.29 ERA and leads The Valley with 94.2 innings pitched and 146 strikeouts.
MVC Player of the Week Nominee
Sophomore Amanda Clack helped the Braves to a 3-1 record at the Coach B Classic in Carbondale, hitting .333 (4-for-12) with a home run, double, and three RBI. She got on base at a .429 clip. Her two-run home run against Western Illinois provided insurance in the 5-1 win.
MVC Pitcher of the Week Nominee
Sophomore Ashley Birdsong contributed to each of the three Bradley victories at the Coach B Classic in Carbondale. Birdsong went 2-0, notching a win over defending Summit League regular season champion Western Illinois and shutting out fifth-ranked Northwestern. She also recorded a save in Bradley's 5-3 victory over Southern Illinois, the first BU win over the Salukis since March of 2003. Her ERA in 17 innings was 0.41, striking out 26 and walking just four.
