PEKIN, Ill. ? Clutch hitting was the story for the Braves in their season opener as Bradley collected five two-out runs in a 5-2 victory against IUPUI to open play at the 2009 Country Inn & Suites Invitational at the Dragon's Dome in Pekin, Ill. Sophomore Katie Dennis (Gilbert, Ariz./Mesquite) tossed a complete game four-hitter and freshman Jackie Roth (Hickory Hills, Ill./Stagg) went 2-for-3 with two RBI in her first collegiate game to highlight the Bradley victory.

The Braves got on the board early, pushing two runs across in the bottom of the second inning. Senior Alycia Bachkora (Overland Park, Kan./Notre Dame de Sion) led off the inning with a single and Roth followed with a bunt single to put runners at first and second. After a sacrifice bunt, junior Janay Mitchell (Woodridge, Ill./Downers Grove South) drove home Bachkora when she hit into a fielder's choice. Freshman Julie Sherman (Hickory Hills, Ill./Stagg) later drove in the second run of the frame with a single to center field, driving home Mitchell as the Braves took a 2-0 lead.

Bradley scored two more runs on just one hit in the bottom of the third inning to extend the lead to 4-0. Junior Amanda Clack (Hillsboro, Mo./Hillsboro) got things going with a two-out walk. Clack moved to third base on a wild pitch and passed ball and Bachkora drew the second walk of the inning to put runners on first and third. Roth drove both base runners in with a double to left center field, giving the Braves a 4-0 advantage.

Bradley struck for another two-out run in the bottom of the fourth. Junior Lauren Meister (Downers Grove, Ill./Downers Grove South) had a two-out single to right field and senior Anne Creighton (Glide, Ore./Glide) ripped her first career triple to score Meister from first and put Bradley ahead 5-0.

Dennis kept IUPUI's hitters off balance throughout the contest and carried a no-hitter into the fifth inning. IUPUI scored twice in the top of the seventh inning, pushing across a pair of unearned runs. She surrendered just four hits and two runs (none earned) in the first complete game of her collegiate career.

Bradley continues play at the Country Inn & Suites Invitational with a noon game against Wright State at the Dragon's Dome in Pekin, Ill.