PEORIA, Ill. ? Illinois State first baseman Evan Kohli's 2-run double in the 10th inning lift the visiting Redbirds (21-20, 11-11 MVC) to a 10-9 victory against host Bradley (16-29, 3-15 MVC) Sunday afternoon in the rubber game of their Missouri Valley Conference weekend series at O'Brien Field.  With extra-inning wins both Friday and Sunday, Illinois State won the series two-games-to-one.

After Illinois State scored five runs in the second inning off Bradley starter Collin Brennan, the Braves were forced to play catch up the rest of the game.  Scoring at least once in each of the first six innings, Bradley eventually forced an 8-8 tie in the sixth when shortstop Tommy Fitzgerald opened the frame with a double and came home on Adam Kimble's two-out two-bagger.

Fifth-year senior Tyler Thornton (2-5) relieved Brennan to start the fourth inning and held the Redbirds to just one run through his first six innings of work.  The right-hander tired in the 10th, however, giving up a one out single to Anthony Ruffolo, followed by a walk to Ryan Court.  Thornton got Gabe DeMarco to fly out for the second out, but Kohli flared a double into the left field corner to chase the runners home.

Once again forced to play from behind, Bradley nearly pulled off the comeback.  Second baseman Matt Fritz started the rally with a one-out single and advanced to third when Jordan Colvin followed with a single to right.  Fitzgerald drew a walk to load the bases, forcing Illinois State to turn to Jim Sajewich, who earned the win in Friday's 11-inning affair.  Sajewich fanned Grant Escue, but uncorked a wild pitch to allow Fritz to score.  With first base open, he intentionally walked Nick Mitidiero to re-load the bases, but ended the game by getting Adam Kimble to ground out to second.

Making their final college appearances at O'Brien Field, 10 Bradley seniors were honored in a pregame ceremony and eight of those seniors played Sunday.  Fitzgerald led Bradley's 14-hit attack by going 3-for-4 with two runs driven in.  Both Fitzgerald and Kimble doubled twice and the teams combined for 13 extra-base hits ? nine doubles, three triples and a home run.

The Braves will close out the 2009 season by playing a three-game Missouri Valley Conference series at Northern Iowa, beginning with a Thursday night game at Riverfront Stadium in Waterloo, Iowa.  Saturday afternoon's two o'clock finale also will be the final regular-season game in UNI Baseball history.