PEORIA, Ill. -- Bradley swept a doubleheader at Northern Iowa two weeks ago, but couldn't complete the regular-season series sweep as the Panthers scratched out a run in the top of the seventh to top the Braves 1-0 Wednesday afternoon at Laura Bradley Park.

Senior Ashley Birdsong (Otis, Ore./Taft) and UNI's Jen Larsen both carried shutouts into the seventh inning, but UNI was able to push a run across in the seven inning off Birdsong to escape with the 1-0 victory.

Bradley (15-20 overall, 6-7 MVC) had trouble getting on track offensively and managed just two hits off Larsen. The Braves had their best scoring chance early on after junior Lauren Meister (Downers Grove, Ill./Downers Grove South) drew a one-out walk in the bottom of the second inning. Junior Amanda Clack (Hillsboro, Mo./Hillsboro) came up just short of a two-run homer when she ripped a double off the wall in left center field, but Meister was thrown out at the plate on the play. After surrendering a two-out walk to junior Jacqueline Vitale (Indian Head Park, Ill./Lyons Township), Larsen induced a pop out to get out of the inning.

UNI (29-14 overall, 11-6 MVC) also struggled at the plate against Birdsong. Megan Machovec led off the game with a single and stole second base but was later called out after leaving second base early on a fly out. After the leadoff single, Birdsong retired nine consecutive batters before Mackenzie Daigh reached on an error with one out in the top of the fourth.

Birdsong would get out of the inning unscathed and would not allow another base runner until the top of the seventh inning as she took a one-hit shutout into the seventh. Larsen collected UNI's second hit of the afternoon with a one-out single to center field and Rachel Gerking drove her in with a double to right center. Gerking was thrown out trying to advance to third and Birdsong retired Morgan Paulson, but the Panthers took a 1-0 lead on the RBI double by Gerking.

The Braves tried to rally in the seventh after senior Alycia Bachkora (Overland Park, Kan./Notre Dame de Sion) drew a base on balls to open the frame. Senior Miriam Wegmann (St. Louis, Mo./Oakville) left the game in the first inning with an injury but returned to the lineup and was called out after her bunt attempt hit her in fair territory for the first out of the inning. Meister hit into a fielder's choice and advanced to second base on a UNI error on the play. Larsen got Clack to fly out to center field to end the contest, however, as she tossed a two-hit shutout and scored the only run of the game in a 1-0 UNI victory.

Birdsong was the hard-luck loser for the Braves, giving up just three hits and one run while striking out four and walking none in a complete game effort. She fell to 9-8 on the season with the loss, but did break Bradley's career record for innings pitched, surpassing Beth Hawkins previous mark of 684.0 innings.

Bradley returns to action Saturday when the Braves open a three-game MVC series against Drake with a noon doubleheader at Laura Bradley Park.