TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – Indiana State rode an 8-run fourth inning to a 16-7 Missouri Valley Conference baseball victory against Bradley (17-30, 2-19 MVC) in the regular-season finale for both teams Saturday afternoon at Bob Warn Field.

Paced by Robby Ort (3-for-5, 5 RBI's) and Casey McCurdy (3-for-3), Indiana State banged out 14 hits against four Bradley pitchers.   The Braves attempted to rally with seven runs in the fifth inning to pull within 10-7, but that was all the scoring Bradley would manage as the final three of five Indiana State pitchers combined to allow just one hit in 4.1 scoreless innings.  Tyler Pazik (1-1) earned the win for his 2.1 innings of scoreless work.

Bradley collected only six hits from six different players, including a grand slam by shortstop Curtiss Bunch.  Senior LF Mike Tauchman was 0-for-5, the first time he went hitless in a game with as many as five at-bats since the 2012 season-opener, and finished the regular season with a .427 average, including a .462 norm in 21 Valley games.

The Braves will open the 2013 Missouri Valley Conference Baseball Championship by facing host Illinois State in the fourth game of Tuesday's opening round, a 7:30 p.m. scheduled start at Duffy Bass Field.  The Bradley-Illinois State winner will play again at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, while the loser will face elimination in a 12:30 p.m. game Wednesday.