Box Score TERRE HAUTE, Ind. - Bradley left the bases loaded in the ninth inning and stranded a pair of runners in the 10th, before Indiana State's Amber Paz drove in the game-winning run in the bottom of the 10th with a pinch-hit single as the Sycamores topped the Braves 3-2 in 10 innings.
Senior Amanda Clack (Hillsboro, Mo./Hillsboro) went 3-for-5 at the plate to extend her hit streak to seven games, but also suffered the loss as she gave up six hits and one run in 3.1 innings in relief of Bradley (15-24 overall, 5-11 MVC) starter Katie Dennis (Gilbert, Ariz./Mesquite).
Both starting pitchers took shutouts into the sixth inning when the Braves pushed a pair of runs across in the top of the sixth. Senior Lindsay Watkins (Hopedale, Ill./Olympia/Parkland) singled to leadoff the inning and came around to score on an Indiana State error on a sacrifice bunt by freshman Taylor Cox (Loveland, Colo./Andover [Kan.]). Cox scored to give Bradley a 2-0 lead on an RBI groundout by senior Janay Mitchell (Woodridge, Ill./Downers Grove South).
Indiana State (16-25 overall, 2-14 MVC) answered with two runs of its own in the bottom of the sixth inning. The Sycamores had a runner at first when Bailey Wittenauer belted a two-out, two-run homer to tie the game at 2-2.
Neither team managed to score in the seventh as the two squads went to extra innings for the second time in the three-game series.
The Braves squandered a scoring chance in the top of the ninth, leaving the bases loaded. Clack led off the frame with a single to chase Indiana State starter Lindsey Beisser from the circle and she advanced to second on a throwing error on the play. Bradley had runners at first and third after a wild pitch and walk by junior Brittany Fairbairn (Lombard, Ill./Glenbard East/Kankakee). Sophomore Jackie Roth (Hickory Hills, Ill./Stagg) reached on a wild pitch on a third strike to load the bases with just one out.
Clack was thrown out at the plate for the second out of the inning when senior Lauren Meister (Downers Grove, Ill./Downers Grove South) hit into a fielder's choice and Sycamore hurler Meagan McCurdy struck out the next batter to keep the Braves from scoring.
Indiana State left runners at first and second in the bottom of the ninth and Bradley wasted another scoring chance in the top of the 10th inning. Mitchell had a one-out single to extend her hit streak to seven games and moved to second on a wild pitch. Junior Kate Singler (Witt, Ill./Nokomis/Heartland) followed with a one-out walk, but McCurdy retired the next two batters to get out of the jam.
The Sycamores broke through for a run in the bottom of the 10th for a 3-2 victory and avoid a series sweep by the Braves. Stephanie Robinson had a one-out single and Wittenauer followed with a double to left field to put runners at second and third to set things up for Paz, who delivered a pinch-hit single up the middle to plate Robinson with the game-winning run.
Clack took the loss for the Braves, falling to 8-7 on the season. McCurdy earned the victory for Indiana State as she improved her record to 7-14. Roth finished 1-for-4 at the plate for BU, extending her season-best hit streak to seven games and went a combined 7-for-11 in the series against the Sycamores.
Bradley returns to action Tuesday when the Braves face Northern Iowa in a single game at 4 p.m. in Cedar Falls, Iowa.
