Non-Conference Play This Week
The Braves will try to return to their winning ways during a doubleheader at Western Illinois on Tuesday, the final two non-conference games of the regular season.
BU defeated the Westerwinds, 5-1, at the Coach B Classic in Carbondale on March 1. Bradley has won seven straight against Western Illinois, but the Westerwinds own a 38-17 advantage in the all-time series.
The Westerwinds are just 8-25 on the year, but have a 5-3 record in Macomb.
Purple Aces Come to Town
Missouri Valley Conference play resumes Saturday when Evansville will visit Laura Bradley Park to begin a three-game set.
The Purple Aces bring a 6-11 MVC record into the contest, three games ahead of the Braves for the final spot in the conference tournament. Evansville is 20-18 overall, led by senior Brittany Herald. Heralrd leads The Valley with a .442 average in 38 starts.
Last season, the Braves were swept in an abbreciated two-game series in Evansville. BU is 20-23 all-time against the Aces.
BU Milestone Update
Bradley sophomore outfielder Amanda Clack is rapidly making her mark in the BU record books, blasting a team-high seven home runs this season. She needs just one home run to tie the single season record of eight, held by Brittany Mynsberge and Natalie Quinn.
Senior first baseman Jessie Musgrove hit her 14th career home run earlier this season 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 at Missouri was her first of the season.
With a win at Loyola earlier this season, junior pitcher Ashley Birdsong recorded her 44th career victory. She needs seven more victories to tie Amy Elza for second place all-time at BU.
Birdsong, who led the league with 275 strikeouts last season, became the second pitcher in Bradley history to strike out 600 batters and has now run her career total to 615. Beth Hawkins owns the all-time Bradley strikeout record with 702.
MVC Player of the Week Nominee
Miriam Wegmann hit .333 (4-for-12) in five Missouri Valley Conference starts last week, primarily out of the leadoff spot.
The junior from Saint Louis drew five walks, getting on base at a .529 clip. She drove in a run Monday against Illinois State and also collected her sixth double of the season Sunday at Drake.
