2008 Illinois State Baseball Bradley at Illinois State 05-02-08 at Normal, Ill. (Duffy Bass Field)

NORMAL, Ill. ? Despite pelting out 21hits against rival Illinois State (20-23, 4-12 MVC), Bradley (24-20, 8-8 MVC) fell to the Redbirds 16-12 in an offensive exhibition Friday night at Duffy Bass Field.  Illinois State scored nine runs in the seventh inning to come from behind for the win.

The 21 hits in Friday's game mark the most hits scored by a Bradley team in Missouri Valley Conference play, and the ninth-most all-time.

The Braves had the bats working early, as Rob Elliot doubled to center field on the first pitch of the game.  Grant Escue took the very next pitch to left center field for a double, driving in Elliot to give the Braves a quick lead.  Colby Luttrell singled to drive in Escue to give Bradley an early 2-0 lead.

Illinois State answered right back with three runs in the bottom-half of the first inning.  Starting pitcher Rob Scahill walked the first two batters of the game, and the runners advance to second and third on a passed ball.  A Kyle Cherney single up the middle brought in Kevin Tokarski for the first Redbird run.  Kevin Konsler doubled to right field to score Cherney and Kevin Dubler and give Illinois State a 3-2 lead. 

Bradley scored three of their own in the second inning to take the lead back 5-2.  Catcher Brett Hendricks pounded a three-run shot over the wall in left center field.  The Wildwood, Mo. native went 2-for-3 with three RBI.

Dubler hit a solo home run in the bottom of the third inning to cut the Bradley lead to 5-3.  However, the Braves exploded for six runs in the top of the fourth inning.

Hendricks doubled to left field to lead off the fourth for Bradley.  Elliot followed up with a double to right center field.  Escue cleared the bases with a triple to center field, and scored on a throwing error by the shortstop.  Luttrell doubled to left field, and scored on an RBI single from Nick Mitidiero to give the Braves a 9-3 advantage.  Mitidiero advanced to second on a wild pitch, and Matt Fritz was hit by a pitch to put runners on first and second with two outs.  A two-run double from Tommy Fitzgerald plated both runners, and Bradley took an 11-4 lead into the fifth inning.  Escue went 4-for-6 with 3 RBI for the and was only a home run short of hitting for the cycle.

Illinois State rallied back to score 13 of the next 14 runs of the game.  The Redbirds scored three runs in the bottom-half of the fifth to close the gap to 11-7 and chase Scahill, who went 4.1 innings, giving up seven runs on six hits and two strikeouts.

The Redbirds took the lead for good with a nine-run seventh inning in which 13 batters came to the plate.  Illinois State threatened early in the inning with runners on second and third with no outs.  A single from Corey Maines scored the first run of the inning.  Illinois State then rallied with two outs to score eight runs, highlighted by a three-run home run to left field by Konsler.

Bradley tried to reply, but was only able to muster one more run when Fritz grounded into a fielder's choice to score Jim Clayton in the top of the eighth inning.

Sophomore Brad Altbach (4-5) was saddled with the loss for the Braves.  He went 2.2 innings, allowing eight hits and nine runs, only one of which was earned.  Tyler Thornton pitched an inning of scoreless relief, while striking out one.  Kyle Nelson (1-1) gets the win for the Redbirds, after pitching 3.2 innings, giving up one run on seven hits and striking out five.

The loss ends Bradley's seven-game winning streak dating back to April 23.  The game marks the first time the Braves have eclipsed the 20-hit plateau since April 26, 2006, when they had 20 against MacMurray College.

The Rivals will play the second of a three-game series Saturday at 2pm at Duffy Bass Field.  RHP Chris Wright (2-4, 5.82) is scheduled to make the start for the Braves against LHP Tyler Cox (4-2, 3.86)