NEW ORLEANS - Third baseman Spencer Gaa went 3-for-5 with 3 RBI's in his return to the lineup and right-hander Elliot Ashbeck allowed only two hits through the first six innings, leading Bradley (6-1) to a 6-3 win against Southeast Missouri State (3-5) in the opening game of a 3-game series at Wesley Barrow Stadium.

After the Braves blanked McNeese State in three straight games last weekend, Ashbeck extended Bradley's school-record streak of consecutive scoreless innings pitched to 34.1 by limiting the Redhawks to a second inning double and third inning single. SEMO ended the streak in the seventh, however, when Ryan Rippee launched a 3-run home run after Dalton Hewitt and Andy Lennington opened the frame with consecutive singles. Ashbeck retired the next hitter, before giving way to closer Matt Dennis, who got the final seven outs without surrendering a hit to secure his second save of the year.

The team's leading hitter in the early season, Gaa missed the final two games of the McNeese State series due to a hamstring injury suffered in the series opener, but he continued swinging a hot bat in his return Friday. Chris Godinez drew a leadoff walk to start the game, promptly stole second and scored on a Gaa single up the middle. Gaa added an RBI single in the fifth inning for a 2-0 lead, then added a third RBI single as part of Bradley's 3-run seventh inning that pushed the lead to 5-0.

Evan Gruener, who finished 2-for-2 with a sacrifice, added a solo home run in the ninth to complete the scoring. Senior centerfielder Isaac Smith also returned from an early-season hamstring injury and was 1-for-3 with a RBI single and two runs scored. Shorstop Tyler Leffler added his fourth sacrifice fly of the season.

Ashbeck (3-0) won his fourth consecutive start dating back to last year's MVC Tournament by allowing three runs on five hits with no walks and six strikeouts in 6.1 innings. A sophomore righth-hander, Dennis moved into a tie for second on Bradley's career list with his eighth save, just two shy of the career record, by working 2.2 innings of scoreless and hitless relief.

This weekend's series originally was scheduled to be played at Southeast Missouri State, but was moved to New Orleans after last week's heavy snow in Cape Girardeau and this week's frigid temperatures. The teams will conclude the series with a noon doubleheader Saturday at Wesley Barrow Stadium. Junior right-hander Steve Adkins (1-0, 1.59 ERA) and junior lefty Brent Stong (1-0, 8.10 ERA) are scheduled to start on the mound for the Braves.