PEORIA, Ill. – With a chance to end a 14-game losing streak to Missouri Valley Conference rival Wichita State, Bradley could not hold a 6-3 lead in the ninth inning, allowing the Shockers (20-16, 6-2 MVC) to rally for a 10-6 win in 10 innings Saturday afternoon at Peoria Chiefs Stadium.

Trying to climb out of that 6-3 hole, Wichita State had a runner at second with two outs in the top of the ninth, then got an RBI double from Micah Green in front of four consecutive walks from Bradley pitchers Andy Johnson (three) and Stephen Toma to force extra innings tied at 6-6.  The fifth and sixth runs actually scored on wild pitches, one from each reliever.

The Braves put the potential winning run on base in the bottom of the ninth when Mike Tauchman worked a 10-pitch at-bat for a 2-out single and took second on a wild pitch, but he was tagged out at third on a Max Murphy high-hopper. 

After scoring four runs on two walks and four singles in the top of the 10th, the Shockers made an effort to give the game back to the Braves in the home half of the extra frame by loading the bases on a 2-out, 3rd-strike passed ball and consecutive walks.  Representing the tying run while standing in for his third career plate appearance, freshman pitcher Elliot Ashbeck just missed on a heroic swing, but ended the game with a fly ball to the right field warning track.

The late-game events spoiled the first career start for Bradley left-hander Brent Stong, who allowed three runs, two earned, on six hits in 5.1 innings.

After Wichita State scored an unearned run in the top of the second, the Braves answered with two in the bottom of the second, scoring one run on a balk and the go-ahead run on a Tyler Leffler RBI double.

The Braves pushed their advantage to 5-1 in the fifth on a Nolan Sponsler sacrifice fly and a 2-run Murphy double.  Though Wichita State got two runs back in the sixth as Stong tired, Greg Partyka launched a solo home run in the eighth for the 6-3 advantage.

The teams will close out their weekend series with a 1 p.m. game at Peoria Chiefs Stadium.  Sundays are Youth Baseball Days at Bradley home games and all youth players wearing their  Little League uniforms will be admitted for just $1, while all children 13 and under may run the bases after the game.