NORMAL, Ill. -  Opportunities were plenty for the Bradley Baseball team in Friday's series opener versus Interstate 74 rival Illinois State, but the Braves (17-28, 5-11 MVC) were unable to take full advantage and the host Redbirds (25-19, 13-3 MVC) pulled away for a 10-4 Missouri Valley Conference victory at Duffy Bass Field.

Bradley had the bases loaded with no outs in both the first and fifth innings, but came away with just one run in the two frames.  Despite rapping out 12 hits in the game, the Braves managed only single runs in the first, third, seventh and ninth innings. 

Bradley starting pitcher Patrick Cooper (4-4) also had a rough night.  The junior right-hander came into the game with a 4-0 record and two saves in his last 10 appearances while limiting the opposition to a .140 batting average, but Illinois State tagged him for six runs on 11 hits in his 6.0 innings of work.  The bullpen duo of Phil Kaiser and Jacob Booden combined to allow four runs on three walks, a hit batter and two singles in the seventh, when the Redbirds stretched a 6-3 advantage to 10-3.  Illinois State ended the night with 14 hits.

Centerfielder Brian Martin was the hitting star for the Braves Friday, reaching safely in all five plate appearances by going 4-for-4 with a walk.  He legged out his fourth triple of the season in the third inning, scored twice and drove in a run.  Third baseman Rob Elliott and shortstop Jason Leblebijian each had two hits.  Redbird third baseman Ryan Court paced the home team by going 4-for-5.  Although he singled in his first two at-bats, ISU second baseman Kevin Tokarski actually saw his nation's-leading on-base percentage drop to .566 by finishing the night 2-for-5.

The I-74 rivals will continue the series with a 2 p.m. game Saturday, then close out the 3-game weekend with a 1 p.m. game Sunday at Duffy Bass Field.  Lefty Joe Bircher (4-4) is expected to take the mound for Bradley Saturday, while the Redbirds are slated to start right-hander Brad Sorkin (3-1).