COLUMBIA, Mo. -- Senior Ashley Birdsong (Otis, Ore./Otis) tossed her 11th shutout of the season and senior Anne Creighton (Glide, Ore./Glide) drove in the only run the Braves would need as Bradley posted a 1-0 victory over 15-seeded and 20th-ranked DePaul in the first round of the NCAA Columbia Regional Friday afternoon at University Field.
Bradley (26-26 overall) continued its hot play, winning its 10th consecutive game and will face either Illinois or 12th-ranked Missouri Saturday at 1:30 p.m. Friday's game between Illinois and Missouri was suspended in the top of the first inning with Illinois holding a 1-0 lead. The game between the Illini and the Tigers will be resumed at 11 a.m. Saturday
The Braves struck for the only run in the game, pushing a runner across in the top of the second inning. Freshman Julie Sherman (Hickory Hills, Ill./Stagg) got things started with a two-out infield single. Sherman, who collected her first hit since April 11, stole second and scored on a Creighton single to give the Braves a 1-0 lead.
Creighton made a pair of good defensive plays in the first two innings, throwing out a runner at first from right field in the first inning and making a running catch along the right field line to open the second.
DePaul (37-13 overall) threatened in the bottom of the fourth inning. Jackie Tarulli-Fisher was hit by a pitch with two outs and pinch runner Sarah Shizas stole second and moved to third on a Bradley error. Becca Heteniak drew a walk and stole second to give the Blue Demons runners at second and third, but Birdsong struck out Lauren Frankiewicz to end the inning as the Braves took a 1-0 lead into the fifth inning.
Pinch hitter Simone Ashkar led off the bottom of the fifth inning with a single for DePaul and moved to third on a pair of sacrifice bunts. Birdsong once again got out of the jam with a strikeout, fanning pinch hitter Marla Mathews for her sixth strikeout of the game.
Birdsong retired the Blue Demons in order in the sixth inning, before giving up a leadoff single in the seventh. The Braves got an out on a fielder's choice and DePaul moved the runner to second base on a sacrifice bunt. The Blue Demons had the tying run at third with two outs after pinch runner Shea Warren stole third, but Birdsong struck out Annie Demas to close out the 1-0 Bradley win.
Birdsong won her 10th consecutive game to improve to 20-10 on the season, as she tossed a three-hit shutout. Birdsong struck out eight and walked one, while moving into fourth place on the Missouri Valley Conference's career strikeout list.
DePaul's Amber Patton entered the game as the nation's leading hitter with a .509 batting average, but went 0-for-3 on the afternoon with one strikeout.
Saturday's 1:30 p.m. game will be broadcast in the Peoria, Ill., area on 96.5 FM ESPN Radio.
