WATERLOO, Iowa ? Freshman left-hander Joe Bircher (4-2) struck out a season-best nine hitters and limited host Northern Iowa (22-26, 6-15 MVC) to two runs on six hits in his 7.0 innings of work, while the Bradley offense pounded out 14 hits in a 9-3 Missouri Valley Conference victory Friday night at Riverfront Stadium.

The start of Friday's game was delayed 1-hour, 40-minutes by inclement weather, but the Braves (17-30, 4-15 MVC) were ready once the game got started.  The Braves rocked UNI starter Brian dela Torriente for five runs on six hits in the top of the first.

Nick Mitidiero (3-for-5) and Matt Fritz (3-for-3, two doubles) both beat out three hits to pace Bradley's offensive attack, while senior right fielder Colby Luttrell was 2-for-5 and belted a 3-run homerun in the eighth inning to break the game open.  Luttrell's blast moved him into a three-way tie for 10th on the school's all-time list for runs batted in with 126.

Bradley will wrap up the 2009 season Saturday when the Braves and Panthers meet in a 2 p.m. game at Riverfront Stadium.  While the game will be Bradley's final game of the 2009 season, Saturday's contest will be the final game in the history of the UNI program as the school has decided to discontinue the sport following the 2009 campaign.

Box Score to be posted