NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Bradley allowed an early, 4-0 lead slip away as Ball State (2-2) rallied for a 7-4 college baseball win against the Braves (0-4) Friday afternoon at Dugan Field.

Bradley will have to regroup right away as the Braves take on host Lipscomb (2-1) in the second game of a split doubleheader at 5:30 Friday.  Junior John Nasshan (0-1) will get the starting nod on the mound for the Braves in Friday's second game as the Braves try to avoid their first 0-5 start since 1972.

Designated hitter Greg Partyka reached base four times, going 2-for-3 with a pair of RBI doubles, a walk and a hit-by-pitch, while freshman shortstop Tyler Leffler enjoyed a breakout game by going 2-for-2 with a walk and a sacrifice bunt, but the three Ball State pitchers combined to hold the Braves scoreless over the final five innings to allow for the rally.

Bradley pitcher Steve Adkins (0-1) started strong and appeared to be in position to get out of a fifth-inning jam, but his throwing error on a potential inning-ending double play with the bases loaded allowed two runs to score as Ball State pulled to within 4-3. 

The junior right-hander then put the tying run on base with one out in the sixth by plunking Sean Godfrey.  Consecutive singles by Cody Campbell and TJ Weir tied things up.  Peter Resnick replaced Adkins with one out and runners and first and second, but after starting his appearance with a walk to load the bases, the freshman hurler surrendered a sacrifice fly to Billy Wellman, who gave Ball State a 5-4 lead.

Bradley had plenty of opportunities to put together a rally of its own, but failed to take advantage of a 1-out single in the sixth, runners at first and second with one out in the seventh, a bases loaded situation in the eighth, nor a 1-out walk in the ninth.  Meanwhile, the Cardinals added to their lead with a bases-loaded walk in the top of the eighth and a Godfrey solo homer in the ninth.