PEORIA, Ill. -- The bottom three hitters in Bradley's batting lineup combined for six hits and nine runs batted in as the Braves (18-19) turned in an 11-4 non-conference baseball victory versus in-state rival Eastern Illinois (18-19) Wednesday night at O'Brien Field.

Freshman catcher Brett Hendricks, who entered the game with just two hits on the season, led the offensive attack by going 3-for-5 with a double, his first career home run and four runs batted in from his No. 9 spot in the lineup.  Hitting eighth, junior shortstop Tommy Fitzgerald added a 2-for-3 performance with three RBI's and junior left fielder Mike Brumleve added two more runs batted in from the No. 7 position.  On the mound, junior Kori Jensen improved to 4-0 on the season by allowing just one run on three hits in 3.2 innings during the middle of the game.

Eastern Illinois threatened in the first by putting runners at first and third with one out on a hitter batter, sacrifice bunt and single, but Bradley second baseman Matt Fritz made a diving catch on a Richie Derback line drive and doubled off Jordan Tokarz at first to end the threat.

The Braves also put runners at first and third with one out in the bottom of the first, but came up empty when Colby Luttrell hit into a fielder's choice and Jim Clayton grounded out.  Bradley made better use of another first-and-third, one-out situation in the second when Hendricks doubled into the left centerfield gap to plate Fritz for a 1-0 lead.  The Braves went on to load the bases with one out when Rob Elliott followed with a walk to end the day for Eastern Illinois starting pitcher Zach Carney (0-1), but reliever Brian Morrell struck out Grant Escue looking and Dan Brewer swinging to limit the damage.

After using a pair of walks and a sacrifice to put runners at second and third with one out in the bottom of the third, Brumleve plated Luttrell from third with a ground out.  Following a Fitzgerald walk, Morrell uncorked a wild pitch that allowed Clayton to score from third and Fitzgerald to advance to second.  Two pitches later Hendricks drilled a 3-run blast to left for a 5-0 lead.

The Panthers got one run back in the fourth.  Derbak led off with a double into the right centerfield gap, took third on a fly ball and scored on Zach Skidmore's groundout.  Eastern Illinois continued chipping away at the lead in the fifth inning, stringing together four straight singles to pull within 5-3 and chase Bradley starter Eitan Barbalat.

Jensen replaced Barbalat with runners at first and second and one out and the Bradley closer quickly put an end to the inning by getting a pop out and strikeout.  The Panthers ran themselves out of a potential big inning in the sixth after putting runners at second and third with one out.  Eastern Illinois tried to execute a squeeze bunt, but Cameron Strang could not reach Jensen's pitch low and away, making Skidmore a sitting duck in the middle of the third base line.  The Panthers compounded their problems when Sean Estand got caught between second and third on the same play and was ultimately tagged out by first baseman Grant Escue in a rundown to end the inning.

In the sixth, the Braves loaded the bases with one out on a Brewer double and consecutive walks to Luttrell and Clayton.  After Fritz popped out, Brumleve was hit by a pitch, plating Brewer for a 6-3 lead and forcing the Panthers to the bullpen for their fourth pitcher.  Fitzgerald greeted Matt Miller with a 3-run double into the right centerfield gap to break the game open and Hendricks followed with a single to score Fitzgerald and push the lead to 10-3.

After Eastern Illinois pulled to within 10-4 by scoring in the top of the seventh, the Braves answered with the final run in the home half of the inning when Brewer led off with his second double of the game and pinch-runner Chris Gordan scored on Luttrell's single to left.

The Braves will return to action at 1 p.m. Friday by hosting Chicago State in the opener of a four-game weekend set at O'Brien Field.  Playing around the Peoria Chiefs' weekend schedule, Bradley and Chicago State will continue the series with an 11 a.m. doubleheader Saturday and will close out the set with a 4 p.m. game Sunday.