CARBONDALE, Ill. -- Max Murphy hit Bradley's second 3-run home run of the game in the seventh inning as the Braves (16-9, 2-5 MVC) rallied for a 7-4 win Friday night at Southern Illinois (16-13, 1-3 MVC), spoiling the first-ever home night game in Salukis baseball history.

Sophomore right-hander Elliot Ashbeck improved to 5-0 by working 6.2 innings in his first career Valley start. After junior reliever Sean Safko pitched 1.1 scoreless innings, freshman Matt Dennis worked around a leadoff hit-by-pitch in the ninth to earn his fourth save of the year.

Senior DH Greg Partyka gave the Braves the early lead by belting his third home run of the year, a 3-run blast to left field.

Ashbeck entered the game riding a streak of 24.0 scoreless innings pitched, but the Salukis quickly put an end to the streak by collecting hits in three of their first four at-bats. Ryan Casillas made it 3-1 with a 1-out, RBI single.

SIU starter Sam Coonrod (0-4) settled in and held the Braves scoreless until the seventh and was in position to earn the win when he exited with a 4-3 lead, one out and runners at first and second. Murphy quickly changed things, however, greeting reliever Lee Weld with a 3-run home run to left center field on Weld's third pitch of the night. The home run extended Murphy's streak of consecutive games reaching base safely to all 25 games this season.

The Braves picked up an insurance run in the eighth on Spencer Gaa's RBI ground out.

The teams will resume their weekend series with a 2 p.m. game Saturday, then will close the series with a 1 o'clock game Sunday.