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Matt Dennis MVC Pitcher of the Week

Dennis Sets Saves Record, Braves Split DH

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BradleyBraves.com Baseball 3/22/2015 1:36:00 AM
Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - Bradley shortstop Tyler Leffler banged out four hits and reached base in five of his last six plate appearances and Matt Dennis set Bradley's career saves record as the Braves (16-5) split a doubleheader Saturday at North Florida (17-9) to complete their 8-game spring break trip.

After falling in Saturday's twinbill opener, 8-4, Bradley used a 4-3 win in seven innings in the night cap to snap UNF's 11-game winning streak. Bradley finished the trip with a 5-3 record and will play one final road game Wednesday at Iowa before hosting Missouri Valley Conference rival Southern Illinois in its first home games of the season Friday through March 29 at Dozer Park.

Game 1 Recap | UNF 8, Bradley 4
Paul Solka was 3-for-4 with a 2-run double, but a 7-0 deficit proved to big a hold to climb out of for the Braves in Saturday's doubleheader opener.

The Braves were held to four singles through the first five innings as the Ospreys built a 7-0 lead against Bradley starter Brent Stong (3-2). Bradley tried to rally by scoring four runs in the sixth. Carson Weber started the outburst by getting hit by a pitch and Leffler followed with a double. Solka brought home two runs with a 1-out double and Drew Carlile followed with a 2-run home run, his third homer of the season.

Bradley had an opportunity to continue the rally after Zach Fairchild walked and Even Gruener singled, but Allan Beer and Isaac Smith both went down swinging to end the rally.

Fairchild (2-3) and Smith (2-5) both joined Solka with multiple hits as Bradley outhit the Ospreys, 10-9.

Game 2 Recap | Bradley 4, at UNF 3
Cameron Roegner (W, 2-0) and Matt Dennis held the Ospreys in check on five hits in the 7-inning night cap, while Leffler was 3-for-4 and Evan Gruener was 2-for-2 with a walk, two runs scored and an RBI double.

Dennis claimed Bradley's career saves record outright by working 2.1 scoreless frames to nail down his 11th career save. Jason Simmons held Bradley's career saves record with 10 from 1990-93. Dennis entered the game with two outs in the bottom of the fifth with the tying run at second base. He hit the first batter he faced, but got a ground ball to end the fifth, then retired the side in order in the sixth and seventh for his fifth save of the season.

Gruener led off the third inning with a bunt single, took second on a Beer sacrifice and scored on a Leffler 2-out single to left.

Gruener also was in the middle of Bradley's 3-run uprising in the fourth. Ian Kristan started the rally with a walk, Carlile singled and Gruener drilled a ground rul double for a 2-1 lead. Beer followed with an RBI single and Smith brought home what proved to be the deciding run with a sacrifice fly.

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Players Mentioned

Cameron Roegner

#35 Cameron Roegner

LHP
6' 6"
Freshman
Isaac Smith

#19 Isaac Smith

OF
6' 0"
Freshman
Paul Solka

#25 Paul Solka

IF
6' 2"
Freshman
Tyler Leffler

#7 Tyler Leffler

IF
6' 3"
Freshman
Brent Stong

#20 Brent Stong

LHP
6' 1"
Freshman
Drew Carlile

#28 Drew Carlile

C1
6' 3"
Junior
Matt Dennis

#10 Matt Dennis

RHP
6' 2"
Freshman
Zach Fairchild

#8 Zach Fairchild

C
5' 11"
Freshman
Evan Gruener

#24 Evan Gruener

OF
6' 1"
Freshman
Carson Weber

#12 Carson Weber

OF/1B
6' 3"
Freshman
Allan Beer

#23 Allan Beer

IF/RHP
6' 2"
Freshman
Ian Kristan

#31 Ian Kristan

C1
6' 3"
Freshman

Players Mentioned

Cameron Roegner

#35 Cameron Roegner

6' 6"
Freshman
LHP
Isaac Smith

#19 Isaac Smith

6' 0"
Freshman
OF
Paul Solka

#25 Paul Solka

6' 2"
Freshman
IF
Tyler Leffler

#7 Tyler Leffler

6' 3"
Freshman
IF
Brent Stong

#20 Brent Stong

6' 1"
Freshman
LHP
Drew Carlile

#28 Drew Carlile

6' 3"
Junior
C1
Matt Dennis

#10 Matt Dennis

6' 2"
Freshman
RHP
Zach Fairchild

#8 Zach Fairchild

5' 11"
Freshman
C
Evan Gruener

#24 Evan Gruener

6' 1"
Freshman
OF
Carson Weber

#12 Carson Weber

6' 3"
Freshman
OF/1B
Allan Beer

#23 Allan Beer

6' 2"
Freshman
IF/RHP
Ian Kristan

#31 Ian Kristan

6' 3"
Freshman
C1