After starting the season with eight wins in 12 games, Bradley lost five times in six tries last week, including an 0-2 mark in The Valley after dropping a pair of home games to preseason favorite Creighton.

The Braves hit .158 and were outscored 22-9, including three shutouts. A large part of the equation was the opposition, as the three BU opponents during the week ? Kansas, Missouri, and Creighton ? have combined to go 72-25 this season with a combined ERA of 2.03.

Back on the Road

The Braves will travel north for the first time this season this Wednesday for a weeknight contest at Loyola. The Ramblers are 6-11 on the year and have yet to play a home contest. The Braves own an 11-7 all-time series lead with Loyola.

After the Chicago trip, BU will face their third MVC opponent of the season during a weekend series at Indiana State. The Braves won two of three against the Sycamores last season and own a 43-25 all-time record against Indiana State.

Milestone Update

With Wednesday's victory at Missouri, junior pitcher Ashley Birdsong recorded her 43rd career victory, passing Glenda Nelson for third place on the all-time Bradley wins list.

Birdsong, who led the league with 275 strikeouts last season, became the second pitcher in Bradley history to strike out 500 batters and has now run her career total to 545. Beth Hawkins owns the all-time Bradley strikeout record with 702.

Senior first baseman Jessie Musgrove hit her 14th career home run Wednesday at Missouri, moving her into second place all-time on the Bradley career list. Brittany Mynesberge, who played for the Braves from 2002-2005, owns the all-time BU home run record with 16. Musgrove's home run was her first of the season and provided insurance runs for the Braves in their only victory of the week.