NORMAL, Ill. -- After scoring 24 runs on 30 hits in the first two games of its weekend series at Illinois State, Bradley (25-21, 9-9 MVC) managed only one run on five hits Sunday en route to a 5-1 loss to the rival Redbirds (21-24, 5-13 MVC).  Illinois State won the series 2-games-to-1.

Redbird starter Eric Theissen improved to 5-4 by limiting the Braves to one run on those five hits in 7.2 innings, while Friday starter Ryan Copeland bounced back from his rough outing by getting the final four outs for his first career save.  Collin Brennan (0-3) took the loss for the Braves, by allowing four runs on five hits and five walks in his 4.0 innings.

After Bradley took 2-0 leads in the first inning of the first two games, Illinois State did the first-inning damage Sunday with three runs.  Following an RBI groundout by designated hitter Anthony Ruffolo plated the first run, third baseman Kyle Cherney followed with a 2-run home run to left center.

The Braves got one of the runs back in the second, thanks to a one-out double by designated hitter Jim Clayton and a two-out single by leftfielder Mike Brumleve to pull Bradley within 3-1.

Dubler led off the bottom of the third with a bloop double that landed in between three diving Bradley defenders.  The Braves appeared to pick Dubler off second on the play with a throw back to Brennan at second base, but after initially calling Dubler out, umpire Bill McGuire ruled the runner safe, saying Brennan bobbled the ball on the tag.  After Ruffolo struck out, Dubler took third on a wild pitch, then Cherny induced a walk to put runners on the corners with one out.  Brennan caught Kevin Konsler looking for the second out, but the Redbirds successfully executed a double steal to push their lead to 4-1.

Brennan's day ended in the fifth after surrendering a leadoff walk to Stalowy.  Senior Lendsey Thomson relieved and gave up a single to Dubler and a sacrifice bunt to Ruffolo, as the Redbirds put runners at second and third with one out.  But Thomson got out of the jam by getting Cherney to foul out behind home plate and Konsler on a fly out.

The Braves opened the sixth with a leadoff single from Dan Brewer and a four-pitch walk to Luttrell to put runners at first and second with no outs.  Clayton grounded into a double play, however, and catcher Nick Mitidiero popped out to end the threat.  After Matt Fritz was hit by a pitch in the seventh, Tommy Fitzgerald hit into an inning-ending double play to again short circuit a potential rally.

After Theissen gave up a 2-out walk to Brewer in the eighth inning, Illinois State skipper Jim Brownlee left the right-hander in to face lefty swinging Colby Luttrell with the lefty Copeland up in the bullpen.  Bradley's leading hitter responded with a sharp single through the right side to end Thiessen's day.  With Clayton, another lefty, due up Brownlee went to Copeland for his first relief appearance of the season.  The pitching change proved to be a mute point, however, as Brewer was thrown out trying to steal third to end the inning.

Illinois State gained some insurance in the bottom of the eighth after a leadoff double and wild pitch put Cherney at third with no outs.  Thomson struck out Konsler for the first out and Calvird was intentionally walked to set up a potential double play, ending Thomson's outing.  Closer Kori Jensen relieved and after starting with a pair of pitch outs, ended up walking Maines to load the bases, then walked No. 9 hitter Quinn Ewert on a 3-2 pitch to force home Cherney for a 5-1 Redbird lead.  Jensed fanned Tokarski and Staloway to limit the damage.

Currently fifth in The Valley standings, Bradley will host UNI in a critical three-game series at O'Brien Field next weekend.  Friday's series opener is slated for a 7 p.m. start.