ORLANDO, Fla. -- Bradley scored five runs in the first inning against Bowling Green, but the Falcons scored twice in the second and six times in the third inning en route to an 8-6 victory over the Braves to wrap up the first day of play at the Central Florida Early Bird Invitational Friday night. Bradley's record evened at 3-3 with the loss.
The Braves got off to a hot start, collecting four hits in the bottom of the first inning and jumped out to a 5-0 lead. Junior Amanda Clack (Hillsboro, Mo./Hillsboro) got things started with a two-out walk. Sophomore Katelyn Kegley (Pekin, Ill./Pekin) followed with a single and freshman Jackie Roth (Hickory Hills, Ill./Stagg) extended her hitting streak to six games with a double down the left field line to drive in Clack from second base with the first run of the game.
Senior Alycia Bachkora (Overland Park, Kan./Notre Dame de Sion) belted a two-run triple to right field to give the Braves a 3-0 lead and junior Lauren Meister (Downers Grove, Ill./Downers Grove South) capped the inning with a two-run inside the park homer as Bradley took an early 5-0 lead.
Bowling Green (2-0 overall) scored twice in the top of the second inning to pull to within 5-2. Karmen Coffey reached on an error to lead off the frame and the Falcons had runners at first and third with no outs when pitcher Melissa Bott helped her own cause with a two-run single up the middle.
The Braves threatened in the bottom half of the second. Senior Anne Creighton (Glide, Ore./Glide) led off with a single and a pair of walks loaded the bases with two outs. Bradley left the bases loaded, however, as Bott induced a groundout to end the Braves scoring threat.
The Falcons pushed six runs across in the top of the third inning to take an 8-5 lead. Singles by Melissa West and Hayley Wiemer started the six-run frame and Bowling Green loaded the bases on a fielder's choice. Coffey drove in the first run of the inning with a single, and Bott drove in her second run of the contest with a one-out single through the left side. Katelynn Boso ripped a two-run double to put the Falcons ahead 6-5 and Rachel Proehl drove in two more runs with a two-run single to push Bowling Green's lead to 8-5.
Bradley got one run back in the bottom of the third inning, when junior Jacqueline Vitale (Indian Head Park, Ill./Lyons Township) belted a one-out solo homer to center field.
The Braves were retired in order in the fourth and fifth innings, but threatened again in the bottom of the sixth. Vitale led off the inning with a single and Bradley had runners at first and second base with one out after Creighton reached on a fielder's choice. Bowling Green hurler Hayley Wiemer pitched out of the jam, however, to help the Falcons to the 8-6 victory.
Vitale finished 2-for-2 at the plate to highlight the Braves offensive efforts. Sophomore Katie Dennis (Gilbert, Ariz./Mesquitte) suffered the loss (1-1), giving up eight hits in two and one-third innings. She struck out two and walked none. Clack pitched four and two-third innings of scoreless relief, striking out five and walking three.
Bradley continues play at the Central Florida Early Bird Invitational in Orlando, Fla., Saturday with a pair of games. The Braves face Western Carolina at noon (CST) and 25th-ranked Kansas at 4:30 p.m. during Saturday's action.
