Box Score LAFAYETTE, La. - Senior Amanda Clack (Hillsboro, Mo./Hillsboro) went 3-for-4 with three stolen bases and a run scored to help Bradley to a 5-4 victory against Bryant to wrap up the first day of play at the 24th annual Louisiana Classics.
For the second straight game Bradley (2-0 overall) scored a run in the first inning to take an early lead. Freshman Taylor Cox (Greeley, Colo./Andover Central [Kan.]) singled through the right side and stole second. After advancing to third on a passed ball, Cox came around to score on a single off the bat of Kate Singler.
Bryant (0-2 overall) tied things up with a single run in the top of the third inning. Kimberly Leonard reached on an error to lead off the inning and a single and a walk loaded the bases. Ashley Coon ripped a one-out single to center field to tie the score at 1-1, but Bradley's Mackenzie Camp (Mapleton, Ill./Limeston) settled down to retire the next two batters and get out of the jam without any further damage.
The Braves went back in front in the bottom half of the third. Clack started things with a one-out single and stole second. Cox drew a walk and a double steal put runners at second and third for Singler, who drove in her second run of the game and third of the young season when she hit into a fielder's choice to drive in Clack from third. Cox later scored on an RBI groundout by senior Jacqueline Vitale (Indian Head Park, Ill./Lyons Township) to give Bradley a 3-1 lead.
Bradley added another run in the bottom of the fourth inning to push the lead to 4-1. Junior Brittany Fairbairn (Lombard, Ill./Kankakee/Glenbard East) singled up the middle to lead off the frame and came all the way around to score on a sacrifice bunt when Regina Burdo committed a throwing error on the play.
The Bulldogs pushed three runs across in the top of the fifth inning to tie the game at 4-4. Bryant loaded the bases with just one out when Talia Zizza drove in a run with a single up the middle. A Bradley error on a fielder's choice allowed two more runs to cross to tie the game.
The Braves scored the game-winning run in the bottom half of the fifth. Singler led off the frame with a single up the middle and moved to second on a wild pitch. Vitale drew a walk and Fairbairn drew a two-out base on balls to load the bases. Sophomore Jackie Roth (Hickory Hills, Ill./Stagg) provided a two-run double in the day's first game, and drove in the game-winning run with a bases loaded walk to put the Braves in front 5-4.
Bryant left the bases loaded in the top of the sixth inning and had the potential game-tying run on third with two outs in the seventh, but junior Katie Dennis (Gilbert, Ariz./Mesquite) pitched out of both jams to pick up her first victory of the season in relief of Camp.
Clack went 3-for-4 at the plate with one run scored and three stolen bases to highlight Bradley's offensive efforts. Singler was for 2-for-4 with a run scored and two RBI, while Fairbairn was a perfect 2-for-2 with a run scored.
Bradley returns to action Saturday at 11 a.m. against Bryant at the 24th annual Louisiana Classics.
