EAST PEORIA, Ill. -- Western Illinois used a six-run first inning and Leatherneck starter Kelsey Michelini gave up just two hits as the Braves fell 7-0 in the final non-conference home game of the season Wednesday night at the EastSide Centre. 

The Leathernecks entered the week among the top 10 hitting teams in the nation and lived up to the billing in the first inning, roughing up Bradley pitchers for six runs on just five hits in the opening frame.

Western Illinois (11-17 overall) had their first eight batters reach base and scored five runs off Bradley (8-28 overall) starter Mackenzie Camp (Mapleton, Ill./Limestone).  A walk and back-to-back singles loaded the bases for Erin Schlotfeldt, who opened the scoring with a two-run single up the middle. 

Beth Golitko followed with a three-run homer to right field to knock Camp out of the game and freshman Madeline Lynch-Crumrine (Sedro-Woolley, Wash./Sedro-Woolley) surrendered a solo homer to Megan Kelly as the Leathernecks jumped out to an 6-0 lead.

Lynch-Crumrine walked the next batter she faced, but settled down to retire the next 13 batters.  Michelini helped her own cause with an RBI single in the top of the fifth to push the Leathernecks advantage to 7-0.

Bradley struggled offensively against Michelini as she took a no hitter into the fifth.  Freshman KayCee Miller (Omaha, Neb./Papillion-La Vista) broke up the no-hit bid with a single to left to lead off the bottom of the fifth.  The Braves had runners at second and third with one out after freshman Brianne Joseph (Post Falls, Idaho/Post Falls) singled, but BU came up empty.

Hailey Bickford took over for Michelini in the circle in the sixth and retired all six Bradley hitters she faced to close out the 7-0 victory for Western Illinois.

Camp took the loss for Bradley, dropping to 3-10 on the year.  Lynch-Crumrine gave up four hits and two runs (one earned) in seven innings in relief of Camp.  Michelini improved to 3-8, pitching five scoreless innings for the Leathernecks.

Bradley returns to action Saturday, opening a three-game series at Southern Illinois with a noon doubleheader in Carbondale, Ill.