Box Score LAS CRUCES, N.M. -- Freshman pitcher Brandi Ore (Versailles, Ky./Paul Laurence Dunbar) gave up just four hits and struck out six in a complete game effort but Bradley (4-3 overall) came up on the wrong end of a pitcher's duel as St. Mary's topped the Braves 1-0 in the Gaels season opener Friday afternoon at the Troy Cox Classic.
St. Mary's (1-0 overall) struck for the only run in the game in the bottom of the second inning. Jenna Smith led off the frame with a double to left center and moved to third on a sacrifice bunt. Katherine Delpit drove Smith in from third with a single to left as the Gaels took an early 1-0 lead.
Ore pitched out of a jam in the bottom of the fourth inning after giving up a two-out single to Megan Smith. Michelle Mounts drew a walk to put runners at first and second and pinch hitter Jessica Lemmon reached on an error to load the bases, before Ore got Whitney Heuser to foul out to end the inning.
The Braves best scoring chance came in the top of the first inning. Junior Kate Singler (Witt, Ill./Nokomis/Heartland C.C.) reached on an error with two outs and senior Jacqueline Vitale (Indian Head Park, Ill./Lyons Township) followed with a single to center field, but Singler was thrown out trying to steal third to end the inning.
Bradley managed just three hits off Gaels' starter Britany Linton, who improved to 1-0 on the year. Ore was the hard-luck loser as she struck out six and surrendered four hits in the loss as her record fell to 1-1.
Bradley returns to action Saturday in a 3 p.m. (CST) game against tournament-host New Mexico State.
