EAST PEORIA, Ill. ? Bradley sophomore outfielder Amanda Clack (Hillsboro, Mo./Hillsboro H.S.) hit her team-leading sixth home run of the year in the first game of a non-conference doubleheader against Illinois, but the Fighting Illini came from behind to win game one, 5-2, then collected 13 hits on their way to a 9-1 victory in five innings in game two at the Eastside Centre in East Peoria, Wednesday night.

The Braves (11-17) jumped to an early 2-0 lead in game one. Clack's home run came with two outs in the first inning, a solo opposite field shot. Later in the frame, junior Miriam Wegmann (St. Louis, Mo./Oakville H.S.) scored from third on an error from Illini shortstop Angelena Mexicano to stretch the lead to 2-0. Wegmann drew a two-out walk after Clack's home run.

Junior starting pitcher Ashley Birdsong (Otis, Ore./Taft H.S.) held the visitors scoreless through four innings, but the Illini trimmed the deficit to 2-1 on the top half of the fifth on a home run from Katrina Ross. Illinois took their first lead of the contest one inning later in the sixth, tying the game on an RBI double from Hollie Pinchback, then taking a 3-2 lead on an infield single from Sarah Bryers. Illinois left the bases loaded after scoring two runs on three hits in the inning.

The Fighting Illini (22-20) tacked on two insurance runs in the seventh on a two-run home run from Pinchback for a 5-2 lead. The home run came with two outs after a single from Lana Armstrong.

Birdsong took the loss for BU to fall to 8-10 on the year. She struck out six and gave up ten hits in a complete game. Ashley Wright notched the victory for Illinois, striking out only one to improve to 5-5.

Illinois scored in each of the five innings in their game two victory, gaining a 1-0 lead in the top of the first on an RBI groundout from Armstrong. Bryers scored on a passed ball from BU catcher Denise Jilka (Eureka, Mo./Eureka H.S.) in the second inning to take a 2-0 lead.

BU third baseman Alycia Bachkora (Overland Park, Kan./Notre Dame de Sion) cut the deficit in half at 2-1 with her third home run of the season to dead center field in the second inning, but the Braves would not get any closer as Illinois scored eight times in the next four innings. Mexicano hit her 13th home run of the season to cap a three-run fourth inning for the Illini.

Bradley starting pitcher Katie Dennis (Gilbert, Ariz./Mesquite H.S.) took the loss for the Braves to fall to 1-3. She allowed five runs in three innings before giving way to senior Rebecca Bishop (Carmichael, Calif./Del Campo H.S.). The senior hurler tossed the final two innings, yielding four runs on five Illini hits.

Missouri Valley Conference plays resumes this weekend, as the Illinois State Redbirds will visit Laura Bradley Park for a doubleheader Saturday at noon, followed by a single contest with the Braves Sunday at noon.