STATESBORO, Ga. – Freshman Maria Schroeder (Lake Zurich, Ill./Lake Zurich) drove in three runs and scored twice in a 2-for-3 effort at the plate to extend her hit streak to five games, but Bradley couldn't hold onto the lead as Eastern Kentucky rallied to top the Braves 9-8 Saturday afternoon at the Eagle Classic.

Schroeder was one of three Bradley players with multi-hit games, while sophomore Kelly Kapp (Freeburg, Ill./Gibault Catholic) also extended her own hit streak to a career-best five games and stole a pair of bases to push her Missouri Valley Conference leading steal total to seven in the loss.

Kapp reached on an error to lead off the bottom of the first and stole second before junior Kathryn Spenn (Williamsville, Ill./Williamsville) drove her in with a two-single to center to give the Braves an early 1-0 lead.

Eastern Kentucky stranded a runner at third in the first and the Colonels left the bases loaded in the second without pushing a run across.  A pair of singles and a Bradley error in the top of the third loaded the bases with one out for Eastern Kentucky and Sarah Jackson gave her squad a 4-1 lead with a grand slam to center.

Kapp opened the Bradley half of the third with a single and stolen base and the Braves had runners at second and third after an EKU error.  Schroeder drove in both Kapp and senior Brittany Burgess (Utica, Ill./St. Bede) with a single to center as Bradley pulled within a run at 4-3.

A three-run fourth pushed the Eastern Kentucky advantage to 7-3, but Bradley answered with four runs in their half of the frame to pull even at 7-7.  The Braves loaded the bases on a single, error and fielder's choice when Burgess drove in a run with a fielder's choice.  Schroeder knocked in her second run of the game with a bases loaded single and Spenn collected her second RBI of the day with a single to right.  Freshman Erika Hansen (Fillmore, Calif./Moorpark) later knotted the game at 7-7 with a two-out single to left to plate Schroeder.

The tie game was short-lived, however, as Johnkyria Alston led off the top of the fifth with a solo homer as Eastern Kentucky went back in front 8-7.  A leadoff walk in the top of the sixth proved costly as the Colonels added an important insurance run.  Paige Murphy drew a walk on a full count and moved to third after a stolen base and sacrifice.  Shannon McQueen drove in Murphy with a single to center to give Eastern Kentucky a 9-7 advantage.

Schroeder had a one-out walk in the bottom of the sixth and advanced to third on a groundout after she stole second.  Hansen came through in the clutch again with a two-out RBI single to pull the Braves within a run at 9-8, but EKU's Shaylon Robb got out of the inning without any further damage and retired Bradley in order in the seventh to close out the victory.

Sophomore Jaelen Hull (Clifton, Ill./Bishop McNamara) took the loss for Bradley to fall to 0-4 on the year.  Senior Alyson Spinas-Valainis (Davenport, Iowa/Assumption) pitched 1.2 innings of scoreless relief for the Braves.

Bradley continues play at the Eagle Classic later today with a 5 p.m. (CST) game against tournament-host Georgia Southern.